Minister of Tourism Moshe Kol announced today that his Ministry would soon launch a major propaganda campaign in Jewish communities abroad with the goal of making Israel a global center for vacationing youth and students. “Every young Jew will be faced with the challenge to spend at least his vacation in Israel, working In a kibbutz or in one of Israel’s 40 youth villages,” said Mr. Kol.
He spoke at the third convention of the Public Council for the Development of Youth Services. He disclosed that 25,000 young tourists are visiting Israel this summer, Including 16,000 students, compared to 20,000 youngsters who visited last year. Mr. Kol cited a recent Gallup poll in the United States which found that Europe and the Middle East are the main attractions for American tourists going overseas. He said his Ministry was making a major effort to attract a sizeable portion of the traffic to Israel.
The second and final summer session for students from abroad began at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem yesterday. Some 700 overseas students were enrolled, an increase of 400 percent over last year. Three groups of Jewish students totalling 180 youngsters from Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia have arrived In Israel for six-week visits that will Include a stay at kibbutzim and meetings with Israeli students. The students were invited individually by relatives and friends in Israel.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.