Talking to the grassroots

While Haim Gutin will tell you that 2013 looks like it will be a more difficult year than the one just past — for a variety of reasons — he’s still in a reasonably positive mood as to how things will turn out. Gutin, tourism commissioner for North and South America for the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO), was in Toronto this week to work on the tourist board’s 2013 strategy for Canada with Ami Allon, the Canadian director, to ensure that Israel continued to boost its traffic out of this market. Gutin admits that he expects to see IGTO’s budget cut, and from where he sits the best response is to get out and connect with the grassroots; talk to the decision makers; and remind everyone that Israel is a lucrative destination to sell. As for the details of IGTO’s plans for Canada in 2013, watch for a full report in an upcoming issue of Canadian Travel Press. Seen in the photo, from l to r, are Ami Allon and Haim Gutin.