“Last year, a record-breaking 3.5 million people came to visit Israel, but that’s not enough,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an opening address on Wednesday to hundreds of hoteliers, tour group operators and other tourism professionals who have gathered at the Jerusalem International Convention Center for the first ever International Tourism Conference in Jerusalem.
“Israel should have more tourists than people. Instead of a two-to-one ratio we need a one-to-one ratio. The tourism industry is one that lends itself to great expansion,” he said.
He added, “Tourism is a critical business for our country and with incredible history and modern vibrancy we are embarking on new partnerships that will create innovative opportunities for tourists, including those spiritually-motivated visitors. In fact, we are looking to work with Christian communities to highlight Biblical attractions and develop direct flight paths to the Galilee.”
Israel, he explained, combines past and future, "the great story of the past, of our past and humanity's past, this spiritual center that the State of Israel has rekindled and that the city of Jerusalem represents; and the future, that Israeli society in all its variegated expressions brings forth, I think make Israel an extremely exciting place."
"The other advantage is you don't have to travel very much," concluded Netanyahu. "The weather is good. The people are good. So all I can ask you to do is come often, and bring your friends and tell them about it. Welcome to Jerusalem, come back again."
The Jerusalem tourism conference focuses on global trends throughout the tourism industry and related fields.
Joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the festive opening event were Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, Ambassador Dr. Zoltan Somogyi, Executive Director for Member Relations and Services, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Mr. Chris Matthews, News Anchor & TV Host, NBC & MSNBC and Mr. William (Bill) Roedy, Founder, MTV Networks International (MTVNI).
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered keynote comments to the conference in an opening event address.
Among the most highly anticipated panels of the conference is a discussion about the Economic Impact of Tourism chaired by Financial Times Special Representative David Applefield.
Israel Museum Director James Snyder, joined by the directors of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum, Chicago’s Art Institute and St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum, will lead a panel discussion on the role of cultural institutions in driving tourism to cities throughout the world.
Chaired by Google Regional Director Meir Brand, panelists will discuss the Impact of Technology on Tourism. By empowering consumers to make timely and informed travel and destination choices, technology has had one of the most significant impacts on the business of travel. The panelists – technology innovators and travel website developers – will look to the future and identify new trends and opportunities.
Government officials will join with private sector professionals to lead discussions about the successful branding of cities and the role of the media in generating tourism. Experts from the fields of advertising, branding, educational and communications will explore the cultivation of perceptions about various locations around the world.
Shifting perspective from global to local issues, leaders in the hotel and aviation sector will join with Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief David Horovitz and Shir & Spitzer owner Naftali Spitzer to discuss the tourism challenges posed by the region’s political climate.