Israel is in the course of a serious tourism drive, expecting to draw 10 million tourists over a higher ten years. This target was outlined by Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu on the Second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit going down on the International Convention Center in Jerusalem.
The two day event, that will conclude today, has attracted leaders of the travel and tourism industry, was discussing the newest groundbreaking technologies and trends.
This year, a different emphasis was put on urban tourism, in addition to innovative technologies on the earth of tourism and travel.
Global leaders, academics and experts within the field of hospitality was conducting panels discussing a variety of issues affecting the tourism industry.
Israel have been leveraged as a Start-Up Nation and Jerusalem as a frontrunner of technology.
“We have doubled the variety of tourists within the previous couple of years from 1.5 million to a few million per year and we have to double this number again and continue its growth. Our goal is to achieve 10 million tourists a year in a decade.”, explained the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu today on the Summit.
The Second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit of 2013 is initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Tourism, the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Development Authority in cooperation with the Hebrew University and the Jerusalem International Convention Center.
Netanyahu stated that “The Israeli economy leads the OECD in growth, creation of recent jobs, and coffee unemployment. Israel is in economic position to handle the challenges ahead. There’s great potential in multiplying the choice of tourists arriving to Israel, with the intention to generate additional jobs.”
Netanyahu addressed the tourist industry leaders stating “The least the govt can do isn’t very moving into your way. Step one we took upon ourselves is to approve the open sky agreement. We remove the section within the annual budget that was going to elevate the VAT. We’re committed to tourism, and committed to protecting it.”
Netanyahu added “Jerusalem is an outstanding city, town of King David and King Solomon, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were all here and billions of visitors can relate to that. A city that blends the past into the long run. We wish to combine the long run with the colourful past. As a way to accomplish that we want basic items – we’re currently building 5,000 rooms and hotels in Jerusalem and Israel.”
Minister of Economy, Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, Naftali Bennett, said “We have a completely unique government. Our goal is to teach this incredible asset – Jerusalem. And we’re talking business. Three million tourists out of a thousand million potential is quiet low. We will do far more.”
Bennett observed the choice made by the Commission for equality within the burden, stating “We have a novel government; we now have started to focus inward and solve real problems we will tackle. We now have just signed an agreement adding 10,000 Haredis into the workplace. Every day we’re making history. Our best task is to chop through various problems that experience hunted us, especially through bureaucracy and over-regulations. Within the upcoming years, we will be able to sense a big change within the economy since we will be able to ease on regulations. We’re already doing so today and you have got not seen anything yet.”
Bennett: “Each time I arrive to Jerusalem from my house in Ra’anana, I miss a heartbeat. In Sha’ar HaGai, beneath the mountains, i am getting that special feeling. Today on my way i’ve thought to myself that our heritage and our past are our best advantages. Due to Mayor Nir Barkat’s initiative, we see a whole bunch research and development, advanced Sciences and overflow of arts, music, and culture.”
Key themes have emerged on the Second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit during the last two days. The forum will draw to an in depth later today.
Panel topics have included: “Planning Models for Urban Tourism,” “Tourism as a device for Urban Economic Development,” “The Smartphone Revolution and the Impact on Users and executives of Urban Tourism,” “New Transportation Paradigms and the way forward for Urban Tourism,” “Follow the Asian Success Story,” “Intangible Heritage and concrete Tourism Development, Sport and concrete Tourism,” and “Hotel Development in Historic Cities.”
Yesterday Sheldon Adelson received an honorary award for his efforts to modify the face of tourism all over the world. The business magnet was praised for his contribution to travel and tourism on the second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit 2013 happening today.
Adelson’s career spans greater than six decades and includes the creation of over 50 different companies, including the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and the COMDEX tradeshow for the pc industry.
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation has become the leading global developer of destination properties that feature premium accommodations, world-class gaming and entertainment, convention and exhibition facilities.