Celebrating its 75th birthday this year, the modern nation of Israel is a baby in years – but for a country so small and so “young”, it has so much to offer in history and modern lifestyles.
That was part of the message at an Independence Day reception hosted by the Israeli Consulate General in Toronto and the country's Ministry of Tourism on 02MAY, which Open Jaw attended.
Gal Hana, Senior Director/Consul of Tourism for Canada for the Israel Ministry of Tourism, told the audience that “75 is the new 50. We will have challenges, but it’s a necessary, healthy process. Our strength lies in our unity – like Mayumana, we have gone from a dream to a reality.”
The event was attended by about 150 members of the travel industry – tourist boards, travel agents and tour operators – as well as members of the Israeli-Canadian community (and some of their very excited children).
The occasion included a performance performance by the Israeli group Mayumana, held at the City Playhouse Theatre in Markham near Toronto. The troupe of entertainers combines music, rhythm, dance and humour.
And the troupe – very famous in Israel – were entertaining indeed, showing that you can have fun making music by pounding on recycling bins or simply playing pat-a-cake (mind you, with scuba fins on your hands).
I was lucky enough to sit next to Israel-fan Janice Snider, an agent with Aufgang Travel. “There truly is something for every client in Israel,” she told me. “Architecture and archaeology, perfect weather, the food is out of this world, fabulous high-end shopping – and English is widely spoken.” In her experience, a typical client is 55-ish, possibly retired, curious and active. And multi-gen is growing market.
As the invitation from the I.G.O.T. read, “We thought the Israeli ‘brand’ with its young, creative, innovative, technological image with much ‘huzhpa’ [audacity] is best paired with exciting entertainment.”
