Faced with a global economic crisis, missile attacks, and a war with Hamas, the Israeli tourism industry is dealing with tough times. After witnessing a boom in visitors for the last 3-4 years, ‘09 is shaping up to be a year not seen since 2001-03 when the internet bubble burst and 9-11 happened.

The Israeli Ministry of Tourism is pushing a $6.5 million campaign aimed at getting tourists back to the holy land.

According to the Jpost: “The
marketing campaign will aim to show that Israel is a safe place for tourists, the
ministry said, adding that work has begun on a program of activities to increase tourism, including advertising campaigns, participating in fairs worldwide and meeting with the largest tourism wholesalers.This month the
ministry hopes to target Germany, Russia, Italy and France. Soon thereafter, the plan calls for advertising campaigns to target North America and Britain, as well as varied marketing activities in South Korea, Poland, Brazil and China.”

What would be interesting to see is where the drop in tourism is coming from. Is it Jewish tourists, who have really been hit by the economic meltdown, that have stopped coming? In the past we have seen that Christian tours that focus on holy places have showed strength when other groups have cancelled trips. Is the same theme going to hold true this time as well?

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Hey don’t worry, the Bank of Israel has a plan to combat unemployment. What that plan is is any-one’s guess, but at least they say they have a plan.

According to a Globes article: “Bank of Israel Research Department director Dr. Karnit Flug told “IDF Radio” (Galei Zahal) today. Flug added, “We have plans to minimize unemployment.” She also noted that experience showed that salaries would probably be eroded as the recession puts downward pressure on wages.”

She told the radio station that she expects another 50,000 more Israeli’s to be added to the unemployment line, but doesn’t think things will be as bad as they were in 2001, after the internet bubble burst.

Flug has taken a cue out of the Barack Obama playbook. nice slogan and no real plan. I guess in our day and age, you need to be long on slogans and short on real plans. What’s her plan to increase jobs? Not important.

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