Israel has appointed Michael Yitzhakov as director general of the Ministry of Tourism. Following the unanimous approval of his candidacy by the Civil Service Appointments Committee, the government gave its approval to Minister Haim Katz’s proposal to appoint Yitzhakov.
Yitzhakov, 37, is married and resides in Netanya. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in law. Over the past decade, he held a series of key positions in the Knesset and the government. Since 2023, he has served as chief of staff to the Minister of Tourism.
Among other roles, he was responsible for legislation in the Knesset and the government in the office of the Minister of Labor and Welfare and led the enactment of dozens of laws in the 20th Knesset, including the historic law to increase the disability allowance, the reform of the long-term care benefit, and more.
At the Ministry of Tourism, he planned and implemented a range of strategic measures to rehabilitate the tourism industry following the war. He was in charge of the national project to accommodate 90,000 evacuees in hotels, at an estimated total cost exceeding 7 billion NIS ($2.11 billion). In addition, he promoted the initiative to allow mixed-use development on land designated for hotels, which is expected to accelerate the construction rate of hotel rooms in Israel.
“The tourism industry is a significant growth engine for the Israeli economy, and the future of tens of thousands of families depends on its success,” Yitzhakov said. “In this challenging period, rehabilitating tourism and providing the industry with the tools it needs for the day after is a national mission. In line with the Minister’s policy, I will act with a professional approach based on measurement, efficiency, and economic value—driven by a deep belief in the ability of Israeli tourism to achieve unprecedented accomplishments.”
Yitzhakov’s appointment took effect immediately, and he replaced Brig. Gen. (res.) Danny Shahar, who served in the position for about 3.5 years.
For more information about Israel’s tourism offerings, visit israel.travel.
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