Anyone around the world is invited to vote in the competition, and choose from the 63 countries marketing themselves as premiere destinations.
By AMY SPIROUpdated: AUGUST 28, 2017 05:30A screenshot the clip starring Shir Elmaliach. (photo credit: screenshot)
The nightlife of Tel Aviv. The ancient sites of Jerusalem. The beach. The history.A new campaign from the Tourism Ministry is inviting world travelers to come experience the country’s two biggest cities.And the 30-second spot, starring Israeli model Shir Elmaliach, is also competing in a contest run by the UN World Tourism Organization.Anyone around the world is invited to vote in the competition, and choose from the 63 countries marketing themselves as premiere destinations.Israel’s entry – a video it has been using for the past year – features Elmaliach pulling around an unseen male by the arm toward all Israel has to offer – from windsurfing to museums, food and more.In the last competition, Colombia won the overall “People’s Choice” prize by getting the largest number of online votes. While an entrant called “Palestine” competed in the past, this year it does not appear to have submitted an entry. But Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, Yemen and even Syria are vying for the prize.“The City Break campaign is part of the marketing revolution that I have promoted and that has proved itself in the huge momentum in increased tourism to Israel,” Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said. “We are witnessing record-breaking numbers of tourists visiting Israel this year, with a 24% increase in the first seven months of last year. I hope that the UN will also understand that Israel is an attractive tourist destination for people from around the world.”Israel’s video entry has been translated into nine different languages and is playing in countries across Europe, encouraging tourism to the Jewish state.Voting in the contest closes on September 11. The winners of the People’s Choice video competition – both overall and in several regional categories – will be announced during the UNWTO’s General Assembly in Chengdu, China, which runs September 11-16.
