RELATED:Lucky No. 3,000,001 More tourists during Jan. to Oct. 2010 than in all 2009 The mixed blessing of tourism successWith Ladislau’s recent arrival, Israel broke the record for incoming tourists set in 2008.Misezhnikov – along with El Al CEO Elyezer Shkedy, Tourism Ministry director general Noaz Bar-Nir and other ministry, airline and civil aviation executives – met the arriving visitors on the tarmac and welcomed them to Israel with flowers and commemorative pins. Ladislau was one of the last passengers to disembark from the plane and his descent down the stairs to the tarmac was greeted by applause from the ceremony participants.“It is symbolic that the three millionth tourist arrived from Brazil, a country that we opened tourism ties with only two years ago,” said Misezhnikov.“It represents the achievements that can be accomplished when the government and private enterprise join hands. At the same time that we opened our tourism office in Brazil, El Al began operating direct flights to Sao Paulo, the result being a 42 percent increase in tourism from that country.”Misezhnikov also said that the fact that Ladislau was coming to Israel as the head of a group of evangelical pilgrims highlighted the ministry’s success at reaching out to the Christian community as potential tourists. The country has been investing large amounts in marketing Israeli tourism products to that community.“The evangelical Christian community is the choice target population for the Tourism Ministry. They love Israel, and by coming here, they both support us financially and become goodwill ambassadors on our behalf,” the minister said.Misezhnikov said that the ministry anticipated to close the year with a total of 3.4 million tourists, representing an increase of 400,000 people over Israel’s previous record tourism year, 2008.Ladislau thanked the minister and dignitaries for the warm welcome and expressed great joy at arriving to Israel.“Israel is different from any other place in the world. It fills our hearts, our souls and our very being. Israel is a blessing for all the nations of the world and I love Israel with a deep and soulful passion,” said Ladislau. “It is important that as many pilgrims as possible come to Israel.”During the ceremony, Ladislau, who disembarked the plane sporting a Brazilian flag wrapped around his shoulders, replaced it with an Israeli flag.
3,000,001st tourist arrives in Israel from Sao Paulo
Pastor Ribamar Araujo Ladislau arrives on El Al flight from Brazil leading group of 120 evangelical pilgrims; breaks 2008 incoming tourist record.
RELATED:Lucky No. 3,000,001 More tourists during Jan. to Oct. 2010 than in all 2009 The mixed blessing of tourism successWith Ladislau’s recent arrival, Israel broke the record for incoming tourists set in 2008.Misezhnikov – along with El Al CEO Elyezer Shkedy, Tourism Ministry director general Noaz Bar-Nir and other ministry, airline and civil aviation executives – met the arriving visitors on the tarmac and welcomed them to Israel with flowers and commemorative pins. Ladislau was one of the last passengers to disembark from the plane and his descent down the stairs to the tarmac was greeted by applause from the ceremony participants.“It is symbolic that the three millionth tourist arrived from Brazil, a country that we opened tourism ties with only two years ago,” said Misezhnikov.“It represents the achievements that can be accomplished when the government and private enterprise join hands. At the same time that we opened our tourism office in Brazil, El Al began operating direct flights to Sao Paulo, the result being a 42 percent increase in tourism from that country.”Misezhnikov also said that the fact that Ladislau was coming to Israel as the head of a group of evangelical pilgrims highlighted the ministry’s success at reaching out to the Christian community as potential tourists. The country has been investing large amounts in marketing Israeli tourism products to that community.“The evangelical Christian community is the choice target population for the Tourism Ministry. They love Israel, and by coming here, they both support us financially and become goodwill ambassadors on our behalf,” the minister said.Misezhnikov said that the ministry anticipated to close the year with a total of 3.4 million tourists, representing an increase of 400,000 people over Israel’s previous record tourism year, 2008.Ladislau thanked the minister and dignitaries for the warm welcome and expressed great joy at arriving to Israel.“Israel is different from any other place in the world. It fills our hearts, our souls and our very being. Israel is a blessing for all the nations of the world and I love Israel with a deep and soulful passion,” said Ladislau. “It is important that as many pilgrims as possible come to Israel.”During the ceremony, Ladislau, who disembarked the plane sporting a Brazilian flag wrapped around his shoulders, replaced it with an Israeli flag.