Every so often I come across really exciting news stories. Even though in its outline this blog does not concern itself with every day news, when something really exciting comes along, I will bring it to the attention of readers.

So what is this exciting piece of news?
Well, it is about being green, and going green. Apparently, an Israeli-American entrepreneur has brought in an investment of $350 million to develop the world’s first complete grid for 100% electrical cars. This is double exciting, because it means that there is government approval. Actually the approval was granted more than two years ago.

And this is exciting, because it shows once again the advanced thinking in Israel on energy issues, on going green, on doing more for a cleaner environment.

I am not going to give you all the details on this deal. You will get much more information by going to the source of my information The Haaretz Daily newspaper.

If this comes off, and I truly hope it does, it will take Israel a giant step forward to cleaner air. It will also show our population and the world the importance of these issues. And we will all become more aware of Israel’s efforts in developing clean tech.

Is there more to be done? Of course. This is only one step. But Israel does have a reasonably good collection system of plastic bottles. Large containers where we can drop our bottles. I have noticed that it is no longer just bottles, but all kinds of other plastics that end up there.

In many places there are also collection bin for used paper. All supermarkets must have collection and crushing of cardboard boxes, and many private citizens bring their boxes there.

Solar Hot Water Heaters in Israel
Photo credit: www.flickr.com/photos/juliepics

When you travel through Israel you can’t help seeing the solar panels on all houses. These panels are for heating water, and I have been told that some 95% of all hot water in Israel is heated this way. Unfortunately we do not yet have solar electric panels, but I know that is on the way. Here it’s a question of the government dragging it’s feet for passing laws connected to this. Or maybe it’s the Electric Corporation that has too much influence?

All of this are steps in the right direction. But there is of course still a long way to go.

Image via Wikipedia

After the six-month mark of 2009 there are now some statistics on tourism to Israel. I can’t say that I totally trust these numbers or at least as far as the way they are affecting the field of guiding.

Despite the gloabl recession of the last two years it seems that tourism is only down a little this year. Just for the month of July the number (252.000) is a mere 4% below July of 2008 (262.000) as compared to July 2007 – 214.000.

Over the years of living in Israel and working as a guide, I have leaned to take these numbers with a pinch of salt. These numbers may not reflect actual tourists, but rather people coming in. No doubt the majority are tourists, but there are also a great number of Jews coming in from around the world to visit family. They are all welcome.

We have also in the later years seen an increase in the number of visitors from markets new to Israel, such as Europeans from areas once under Soviet control or influence. The economies of these countries seem to have been less hit by the recent recession. At the same time there is an large untapped market from these countries.

Another market that seems to be coming back after a hiatus of almost 10 years are the Scandinavians. This tourism is directed more to Eilat,

Image via Wikipedia

Israel’s foremost beach town on the shores of the Red Sea. Eilat has for many years been a great attraction to these countries, due to its free living and the great variety of water activities. This is testified with the new flights by the Finnish airline Aurinkomatkat to Eilat. Maybe other Scandinavian airlines will follow suit.

Apparently the present Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov is expecting a rise in tourism in the coming months. So am I, as there is always a rise in tourism during the months of October and November. He is apparently also making plans for adding 2500 hotel rooms across the country and to be actively involved in increasing tourism to Israel to 5 million by 2015.

As an active guide I welcome any increase in tourism. I only ask of the Ministry not only to make plans and build hotel rooms, but also to be concerned with infrastructure to promote tourism, such as decent parking places for busses and private guidedcars, especially in Jerusalem. As Jewish as we are, we cannot ever forget that the backbone of tourism to Israel has and always will be the Christian pilgrim.

For a slightly different view on tourism to Israel

Despite the economic recession of the last couple of years, the small businesses are doing good. It seems that the worst hit in this recession are the bigger companies and their employees.

Not only are the small businesses doing good, there seems to be more and more of them, becoming a great addition to the economy. Many of these businesses are home based businesses, and being small they are pretty much one-man or one-women operation.

Like all businesses these smaller ones want to attract and keep clients. But being small budgets are limited. And so Israel has joined the ranks of business networking.

Since the concept reached Israel some 10 years ago more and more groups are opening up. Some of them are part of a larger organization, others are simply the initiative of a single person and very local.

What’s fascinating is the incredible variety of businesses represented. You will find professionals such as lawyers, optometrists. You will find many in alternative medicine, but just as many in anything related to internet, internet businesses, website building. You will find life coaches and business coaches, but also people working in multilevel marketing. And then of course the businesses that are completely local like you handyman, electrician, gardener, air condition repair man, and more.

There are even business networking groups that are only women, and on purpose. They meet later, like mid morning, a much more convenient time for a woman who is both mother and businesswoman.

A trip to Israel and meeting with a business networking group can then be considered a business trip.

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