Israel to hold OECD tourism conference

For the first time, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) tourism committee will hold its annual conference in Jerusalem and not in Paris. The 86th meeting of the committee is to be held in Jerusalem from October 20 to 22. The 31-country economic group of developed nations voted unanimously on May 10 to include Israel as a member.

Fifty tourism ministers and representatives from member states and other countries, along with leading international figures in the fields of tourism and the economy, will be invited to the conference. The three-day event will focus on “green growth” as derived from the OECD program to develop and promote a green policy as a means to achieving economic growth.

The conference will discuss the tourism aspects of the program, such as how to develop green tourism, how to identify green business opportunities and more. Following the conference, participants will tour the country and visit various tourist sites.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov says that “The committee’s decision to hold its annual meeting in Jerusalem and give it a festive and prestigious touch, together with the invitation to tourism ministers from the member countries, is an important vote of confidence with additional significance for promoting tourism and improving Israel’s image around the world.”