The cabinet today approved at its weekly meeting the establishment of a special team headed by Ministry of Tourism director general Amir Halevy. The team will formulate recommendations to the government about actions to be taken, the tools needed, and the amount of assistance required to address the tourist industry crisis. The team members will include the Prime Minister's Office director general or a representative on his behalf, and the Ministry of Finance budget department director.
The decision on the necessity for devising a "toolbox" for aiding the tourist industry after Operation Protective Edge was taken following recommendations by an inter-ministerial team headed by Halevy, in pursuance of a cabinet decision on the matter from September 2014 concerning aid to the tourist industry following Operation Protective Edge.
It was also decided today that the deadline for devising a future aid mechanism for the tourist industry and tourism-related services following the crisis and the deadline for devising a permanent mechanism for a safety net for investors in hotel construction in Israel would be extended by 120 days.
Another team will be set up headed by the Ministry of the Economy director of employment regulations, with participation of representatives of the Ministries of Tourism and Welfare and Social Services, the Ministry of Finance budget department, and the National Insurance Institute. The team will consider the conditions and circumstances in which the National Insurance regulations will be put into operation for unpaid professional vacation for workers in the tourist industry, who will undergo professional training during this vacation and be paid full unemployment benefits.
The Ministry of Tourism reports that the damage caused to date to the industry and related economic concerns is estimated at NIS 2 billion from canceled reservations until 2016.
Following the decision, Ministry of Tourism Yariv Levin said, "Today, at the cabinet meeting, with the absolute backing of the prime minister, we approved an economic safety net for the tourism industry. The important decision that we are not waiting for an emergency situation, and are preparing ahead of time to provide assistance and concessions to the sector in a case of geopolitical crisis will be of great assistance to the tourism industry, and will contribute to its stability."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 2, 2015
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