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Senior members of the tourism industry in Israel expressed their satisfaction and optimism over the appointment of Stas Misezhnikov as the new Minister of Tourism. Ami Etgar, the General Manager of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association (IITOA) said that he hoped that Minister Misezhnikov would this year manage to bring tourism levels back to the same as in 2008.

In a ceremony held last week in Jerusalem, Stas Misezhnikov was congratulated by senior members of the tourism industry, as he was sworn in as Minister of Tourism in place of former minister, Ruhama Avraham Balila.  Misezhnikov has until now represented tourism lobbies in the Knesset and it is hoped that this experience will hold him in good stead.

In his acceptance speech Misezhnikov said that unlike some of his fellow cabinet ministers, he had received exactly the position that he had wanted and was determined to make significant achievements for the ministry, both in economic terms and in improving its image. He added: “As the person who formed and headed tourism lobbies, I am fully aware of the massive potential of the tourist industry as an engine of growth in the economy.”

Eli Gonen, President of the Israel Hotel Association indicated that with Misezhnikov’s experience in the previous Knesset as Chairman of the Finance Committee, he was ideally placed to help increase the ministry’s budget, especially the budget to help to market Israel to the World.

Gonen added “For years governments have had under their noses the potential of 250,000 workplaces, what is now needed is an immediate investment of 350 million shekels in overseas marketing.”  Gonen said that he believed that the new minister would also expand the budget for the tourism infrastructure as well as for education and publicity.  This was absolutely essential if the vision of 5 million tourists a year in Israel was to be achieved.

Ami Etgar representing the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association explained that success was contingent on the Ministry of Tourism establishing a clear and focused strategy for the next few years and expanding tourism as a central goal for the coming years.  Etgar also said that it would be a big opportunity missed if the government didn’t change its attitude towards tourism.