By Dr. Elinor Gary
ETN Editor-in-Chief
I was at the bar with a frriend discussing the merits of the kosher wine we were drinking as we waited for the arrival of Uzi Landau, the current Israeli Tourism Minister. Guests came and went with their wine glasses and I hardly noticed – until I heard a request for a Coke. I looked up to see who placed the order and it was none other than the Israeli Minister of Tourism (I recognized him immediately from my Wikipedia photo), Uzi Landau.
Although I was surprised to note his drinking preference, I was more startled by the fact that he was at the bar without his handlers from Geoffrey Weill PR. Most tourism ministers are surrounded by their public relations consultants who are either preventing the press from getting too close or keeping the VIPS from making comments that were not programmed, scripted or rehearsed. Armed with my Wikipedia bio I leaned over Denise to get a comment from the Minister – before anyone else spotted him.
What I already knew: this Israeli politician is a member of the Knesset for Yisrael Beiteniu and previously a Likud MK where he served as the Internal Security Minister from 2001-2003; from 2009-2013 he was the Minister of National Infrastructure and was appointed Tourism Minister in 2013. I also knew that Minister Landau holds a PhD from MIT and a BS and MS from Haifa Technion. He also serves on the Board for El-Al Israel Airlines, the Port of Authority, the Israel Airport Authority and the Society for the Protection of Nature.
So – my question: How does someone with this impressive education and challenging career in security find happiness running around the planet dealing with hospitality, travel and tourism issues?
The Minister suggested that all of his previous experiences and education prepared him for the challenges posed by the industry. In fact, he took a holistic approach and not a systems approach to the businesses that made demands upon the infrastructure of the country, and success was dependent upon country-wide security.
_________________________________________________________________
Click here to enter Jewish Federation of San Diego County’s “free trip to Israel”
_________________________________________________________________
Despite the political tensions that are part of the Israeli experience, tourism to this complex destination has never been better. In 2013, 3.5 million visitors (including 623,000 from the USA) spent time in the country and these visitors contributed $11.4 billion to the economy. A significant part of the tourism initiative focuses on bringing young adults to the country as part of the Taglit-Birthright Israel. Since it began, over 350,000 Jewish young adults, from 64 countries, 50 US states and nearly 1000 North American college campuses – have participated. A recent event included 65000 young Israeli soldiers from IDF units and local students who joined the tours. Minister Landau is so delighted with this program that he plans to use the model to sponsor trips for young Evangelical Christians – to encourage Christian tourism to the Jewish state.
Cruise tourism to Israel is a growing market segment. There are two cruising styles available; 1). Regional cruises with port stops in Haifa or Ashdod and 2). Christian cruises where the focus is on Europe with stops at Italy and Spain and Israel is a side-step for a few days in the Mediterranean.
As a result of the increased tourism demands, Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevi is concerned that industry prices will increase. To stem this upward spiral, Halevi is looking to increase and expedite new hotel construction and find alternative accommodation options.
Travel with a Purpose
Perhaps Minister Landau is touring the world, meeting journalists, and spreading Israeli – style charisma – because he has plans to join the crowded field of candidates seeking to succeed President Shimon Peres in an election scheduled for May or June according to Gil Hoffman of The Jerusalem Post (February 12, 2014).
Maayana Miskin in the Israeli National News reported on February 16, 2014 that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman are planning to support Tourism Minister Landau as the next President of Israel- if Landau officially joins the race.
Minister Landau has stated, “We are a democracy, with respect for the rule of law, free press and an open economy, surrounded by the rough seas of terror, dictatorship, corruption and the oppression of women” (Maya Shwayder, Jerusalem Post).
10 Reasons it is an Economic Engine
Israel is a destination that requires a visit. Even if you are not into history, or art, or wine, or outdoor sports, or investments in Israel, the fact that Israel exists – is reason enough to see it – up close and personal. The country is an economic engine for the world.
1. Business Insider: With 4800 startups in the country, Israel has more entrepreneurial operations per capita than any other country; ranks #2 in actual numbers – after the USA
2. In 2013, foreign companies spent $6.45 billion buying Israeli firms, up 20% from 2012, accounting firm PwC Israel Kesselman & Kesselman reported. Most of that sum was for a small number of mega-exits in high-tech, including Google’s acquisition of Waze, the navigation application company, for about $1 billion.
3. In 2012, 622 Israeli high-tech firms raised a cumulative sum of $2.3 billion, the largest amount since 2000, when Israeli high-technology firms attracted $3.1 billion, according to the business data company IVC Online.
4. Times of Israel: Over 250 multinational have research and development centers in Israel, 80 of them Fortune 500 companies
5. Israel Foreign Minister: Israel is the only country in the world with more trees now than it had a hundred years ago.
6. Dr. E. William Colglazier, State Department Science and Technology Advisor: Israel is a world leader and a model not only for small countries, but all countries.
7. Efraim Inbar, Begin-Sda Center for Strategic Studies – Israel is Not Isolated – observed that Israel is increasingly acknowledged as a world player in view of its social, economic, technological, financial and diplomatic achievements.
8. Warren E. Buffett (March 2007): Throughout Israel, brains and energy are ubiquitous.
9. Warren E. Buffet (May 2006): I believe in the Israeli market and the Israeli economy and I think that this is a good time to invest in it.
10. Bill Gates (2005): It’s no exaggeration to say that the kind of innovation going on in Israel is critical to the future of the technology business
*
Preceding provided by eturbonews.com … San Diego Jewish World seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site. To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com