Following many discussions, agreements were reached between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Tourism and the Hotels Association and the Chamber of Inbound Tourism Operators, which stipulated that hotels that were significantly affected by restrictions on tourists entering Israel and experienced a decrease of at least 40% in business turnover, as well as inbound tourism operators, will receive additional financial assistance over the coming months. This, in order to assist them in adapting to a situation in which the restrictions on the entry of tourists into the country have not yet been lifted.
In addition to financial assistance to hotels that have not yet returned to full operation since the outbreak of the COVID-19, the decision stipulates that more Jordanian and Palestinian workers will be allowed to work in hotels.
This assistance is in addition to the assistance provided to businesses as part of the new Knesset program and the extension of the grant for low-wage workers.
Finance Minister, Avigdor Lieberman: “After pledging to address the tourism industry, we have been able to generate significant agreements that will address both the hotel industry and the inbound tourism industry. The economy today requires us to conduct ourselves responsibly and that is how we operate”.
Tourism Minister, Yoel Razvozov: “I thank the Minister of Finance for responding to the plight of the tourism industry. The assistance provided is a survival grant and is a significant part of our war on the cost of living. Hotels must not be closed. It is a matter of supply and demand. Fewer hotels and guest rooms will increase demand and lead to higher prices. The service experience of a tourist staying in hotels depends to a large extent on the employment of a staff that provides cleaning and auxiliary services. Therefore, a permit to bring in foreign workers is intended to increase the existing level of service. In these challenging days, assistance to inbound tourism operators is important. They are an anchor for bringing millions of tourists into the country and will be responsible for bringing tens of billions of shekels into the state coffers, on the day we defeat the COVID-19”.
Yossi Fattal, Director General of the Chamber of Inbound Tourism Operators: “We are happy and thank the Minister of Tourism, Yoel Razvozov, and the Minister of Finance, Avigdor Lieberman, who promised and maintained a budget allocation that will ensure the continued activity of tourism organizers in Israel at least until the end of the year.
Yoel Razvozov’s entry into the post of Minister of Tourism is a refreshing and hopeful breeze. The approved budget will allow continued support in the business frameworks and the employment of about 15% of the experts in companies in the field of marketing who continue to process requests to visit Israel and prepare the arrival of the first groups after the Jewish holidays.
In addition, the budget approved by the ministers is a safe investment that will result in the reopening of thousands of jobs in the periphery that depend on the tourist groups for their livelihood. We are also encouraged by the fact that the Minister of Tourism, Yoel Razvozov, is working to stop referring to Ben Gurion Airport as the punching bag of the COVID-19 crisis and to change the public discourse about it”.