Israel is in the course of a serious tourism drive, expecting to draw ten million tourists over the subsequent ten years.
This target was outlined by prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the Second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit occurring on the International Convention Centre in Jerusalem.
The two day event, with the intention to conclude earlier, has attracted leaders of the travel and tourism industry, were discussing the most recent groundbreaking technologies and trends.
This year, a distinct emphasis have been put on urban tourism, in addition to innovative technologies on earth of tourism and travel.
Global leaders, academics and experts within the field of hospitality were conducting panels discussing quite a lot of issues affecting the tourism industry.
Israel was leveraged as a Start-Up Nation and Jerusalem as a pacesetter of technology.
“We have doubled the variety of tourists within the previous few years from 1.5 million to three million per year and we have to double this number again and continue its growth. Our goal is to achieve ten million tourists a year in a decade,” explained Netanyahu 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 Centre.
Netanyahu stated that: “The Israeli economy leads the OECD in growth, creation of recent jobs, and coffee unemployment.
“Israel is in a very good economic position to deal with the challenges ahead.
“There is excellent potential in multiplying the variety of tourists arriving to Israel, so that it will generate additional jobs.”
Netanyahu addressed the tourist industry leaders stating: “The least the govt can do isn’t really stepping into your way.
“The first step we took upon ourselves is to approve the open sky agreement.
“We remove the section inside the annual budget that was going to boost the VAT. We’re committed to tourism, and committed to protecting it.”
Netanyahu added: “Jerusalem is a phenomenal 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 longer term.
“We desire to combine the longer term with the colourful past. With the intention to accomplish that we’d like staple 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 expose this incredible asset – Jerusalem. And we’re talking business. Three million tourists out of 1000000000 potential is quiet low. We are able to do rather more.”
Bennett talked about the call made by the Commission for equality within the burden, stating: “We have a completely unique government; we’ve started to focus inward and solve real problems we will tackle.
“We have just signed an agreement adding 10,000 Haredis into the workplace. Each day we’re making history. Our best task is to chop through various problems that experience hunted us, especially through bureaucracy and over-regulations. Inside the upcoming years, we can sense a significant change within the economy since we shall ease on regulations. We’re already doing so today and you’ve 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 actually have thought to myself that our heritage and our past are our best advantages. Attributable to Mayor Nir Barkat’s initiative, we see a lot of 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 a detailed 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 bosses 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 around the globe. 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.