FORT LAUDERDALE — Chad Martin, director of the Northeastern United States for Israel's Ministry of Tourism, arrived at Travel Weekly's CruiseWorld event, still here to address travel advisors. And they responded with a long standing ovation.
“Shalom, thank you so much for your warm welcome. I really needed it,” Martin said from the stage.
Martin originally planned to talk about the new Israel Destination Specialist program. However, the surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7 and the subsequent conflict between Israel and Hamas have resulted in Israel being closed to holiday travel, and operators, cruise lines and airlines canceling or rerouting their products for the foreseeable period. I changed it. future. I guess the destination expert program talk will have to wait for another day.
Nonetheless, he told the audience, “Tourism is still important.”
Martin told the story of being one of 420 Jewish students at his high school in Youngstown, Ohio. And he talked about how his sophomore year he traveled to Israel and how he was able to connect with Israelis and his own heritage.
“I take Israel with me wherever I go. Tourism is one of the reasons it remains important even when I can't,” Martin said.
Martin said it's difficult to talk about tourism after what happened Oct. 7. “Still, I keep thinking about that first trip, that connection, and why I’m here today because of that trip.”
Martin said Israel's Ministry of Tourism has shifted its mission from marketing tourism to preparing hotels for refugees whose homes are in danger or who come from “places they never want to return to because of what happened on October 7.”
He told travel advisors he would play a key role in reopening tourism when that day comes.
“A new day will dawn,” Martin said. “We must remember how special Israel is to our customers and that it is time to return.”
