Meseznikov rebukes PA tourism minister for boycott call

'Boycott would affect the hotel workers, restaurant employees and other workers in the tourism industry, the majority of whom are Palestinians.'

By BEN HARTMAN
tourist in Jerusalem 58 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
tourist in Jerusalem 58
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov on Monday expressed regret at the Palestinian Authority’s recent call for the international community to boycott an upcoming tourism convention in Jerusalem, and expressed his hope the call would be rescinded.
“Tourism is a bridge to peace, dialogue and togetherness between the two peoples, and one of the principle confidence-building measures between the two,” the minister said.
Meseznikov mentioned how 2010 was the best year ever for tourism in the PA, and set records for shared tourism initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians.
The minister said he hopes “rational considerations will outweigh this decision and prevent boycotts of this sort.”
PA Tourism Minister Hulud Deibas sent a letter on Friday to all countries invited to take part in the 2011 International Tourism Conference in Jerusalem, which will be held at the capital’s International Convention Center (Binyenei Ha’uma) on March 29- 31.
In her letter, Deibas said, “The dispatch of official representatives constitutes recognition of occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.”
Tourism ministers from 30 countries have been invited to take part in the conference, which was organized by the Tourism Ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality.
Joseph Fischer, owner’s representative and executive board member for IDB Tourism Ltd, on Monday said efforts to boycott Israeli tourism will hurt Palestinians more than Israelis. He said, “2010 was a record-breaking year for tourism to Israel and also for the Palestinian Authority,” and described how West Bank cities such as Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho have benefited from the overflow from hotels in Jerusalem experiencing “unprecedented booking levels.”
Fischer said such a boycott would affect the hotel workers, restaurant employees and other workers in the tourism industry, the majority of whom are Palestinians.
“Instead of joining hands to work together to advance tourism – a tool to bring reconciliation between the two peoples – this PA minister has chosen politics over what is actually good for her people,” Fischer said.