Yoel Razvozov takes over as Israel Tourism Minister
Yoel Razvozov began serving as the Minister for the Israel Minister of Tourism on 15 June 2021. Razvozov, who first entered the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) in 2013, having served as Chairperson of the Sports Lobby of the Knesset and Chairperson of the Generation and a Half Lobby since 2015. From 2013-2015, Razvozov was appointed Chairperson of the Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs. Minister of Tourism Yoel Razvozov said that he intends to work vigorously to bring the tourism industry back to full operations. “My first task as Minister of Tourism is to build a correct and effective outline for the easing of conditions for tourists to enter Israel - of course, without endangering the citizens of Israel and in cooperation with the professional bodies in the Ministry of Health.” said Minister Razyozov.
Razvozov has worked to promote the rights of Holocaust refugees and to increase veteran allowances. He has promoted the integration of immigrants in the public health system and education system, and sponsored persistence bonuses to immigrant teachers. Razvozov has also promoted assistance for lone soldiers and worked to integrate immigrants in the job market. He has also worked for harsher punishments for violence in sports, for professional athletes and to promote sport in the community.
Born in 1980 in Birobidzhan, Russia, Razvozov immigrated to Israel in 1991 at the age of 11. He holds a BA in Business Administration with a specialization in Financing from the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya. He is the father of two daughters and a resident of Netanya.
The outgoing Minister of Tourism and the incoming Minister of Science and Technology Orit Farkash-Hacohen wished Minister Razvozov success and said: “I entered the Ministry of Tourism in the middle of the second wave of the pandemic. This is not a period that characterizes tourism ministers, and I felt a very high sense of mission and pushed a lot of things for the industry. Mostly I want to tell the employees of the ministry that we worked under difficult conditions because of the corona pandemic. You entered my heart, I hope you will only succeed."
