The possibility of a casino being built in Israel has been raised once again: Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov (Yisrael Beiteinu) announced on Tuesday that he and his ministry support the construction of a casino in Eilat, or any other location in the South, open to Israeli citizens as well as foreigners.
Misezhnikov issued his remarks before the Knesset Economic Committee, but committee chairman Carmel Shama-Hakohen voiced reservations over the idea. "If a casino is available to Israelis on a daily basis it could lead to gambling addiction and other negative behaviors," he said. "If a casino is built in Israel, the possibility of limiting Israeli entry should be examined.
MK Rabbi Yisroel Eichler also voiced his forceful opposition to the idea of building a casino in Israel because "the social maladies we already have are enough; they are numerous and we are finding it difficult to confront them. There is no need to add to them through the setup of a legal gambling establishment, which would only bring considerable harm to society and youth."
Minister Misezhnikov told the committee that "2010 was a record year in which 3.5 million tourists visited Israel, four percent more than the previous record in 2008." He added that every additional 100,000 tourists create 4,000 jobs that contribute NIS 450 million ($130 million) to the economy. He said his ministry's goal is to bring in another million tourists within three years. He also noted that in 2010, 61 percent of all the newly employed (about 100,000) were added to the tourism sector.
The Tourism Minister also reported that the US supplies the greatest number of incoming tourists, followed by Russia, France, Germany, England and Ukraine.
