The Israeli Tourism Ministry is putting money behind their words with plans to invest 15 million shekels ($4 million) in Jerusalem during 2010. According to a press release, the funds will go towards tourism infrastructure and tourism event promotion “in order to encourage domestic and incoming tourism.” Said the release, “This is in line with the new work plan presented by the Tourism Minister which positions Israel as the Holy Land with Jerusalem at its center.” The infrastructure development will allow for more visitor access at tourist sites, while the overall plan will also “facilitate an increase in the scope of tourism activities.”
Investing money into Jerusalem is nothing new, as tens of millions of shekels have already gone into its tourism infrastructure. The funds are well spent, as the capital is the most popular city in the country for visitors. According to data from the Tourism Ministry, 74% of all tourists visited Jerusalem, with 53% spending at least one night there. Jerusalem’s most visited sites are the Western Wall, the Jewish Quarter, the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Via Dolorosa, the Tower of David and the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said in the press release, “Jerusalem is Israel’s central tourism brand, representing the main attraction and focus for most incoming tourists. In order to meet our goal of an additional million tourists within three years, we will invest in this important brand over the next few years in order to make it attractive for new markets internationally and for the Israeli visitor.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, December 3, 2009)
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