For Immediate Release, July 21, 2000
Contact: Gwenda Bond or Channell Barbour (502)564-2611
Governor
Patton Visits Israel, England on Trade Mission
Governor Patton, joined by a delegation of state officials
and members of the Jewish Community Federation of Louisville, will travel to
Israel on a trade mission on behalf of economic development in Kentucky.
The governor will also visit England on Kentucky’s fourth tourism
development mission in as many years.
“Expanding investment and business opportunities is
always a high priority for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This historic mission
will enable us to explore many varied development options in this critical hub
of the Middle East, as well as help us build strong economic ties with
Israel,” said Governor Patton of the delegation’s trip to Israel.
The governor’s trade mission is the first such trip made
by a Kentucky governor, but is preceded by many similar delegations from other
states. The Kentucky delegation includes many business leaders from Louisville,
including the Presidents of the University of Louisville and Greater Louisville
Inc. A complete list of the Kentucky delegation is available.
Israel is a democratic, highly developed country known for
its high tech industries, medical and scientific research, innovation and
ingenuity. It boasts a highly educated and sophisticated workforce and a robust
economy that offers opportunities for partnership and economic expansion that
could benefit the Commonwealth.
On Monday, July 24th, Governor Patton is
scheduled to meet with the U.S. Ambassador to the state of Israel Martin S.
Indyk. Later that day, the Governor and First Lady Judi Patton will visit the
grave of Yitzak Rabin, former prime minister of Israel, and participate in a
wreath-laying ceremony at Yad Vashem, the Jewish national memorial in honor of
the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. The First Lady will visit the
Hadassah Hospital, a Jewish children’s hospital that receives donations from
several groups in Louisville. Governor Patton and the First Lady will
also have dinner with the Israeli Minister of Trade and Commerce on Monday
evening.
On Tuesday, the governor will attend an economic seminar
with the Israeli Finance Minister and the head of the Bank of Israel and
representatives of several Israeli companies.
On Thursday, Governor Patton will travel to England on his
fourth such tourism sales mission in his time as governor. Working in
partnership with the convention and visitor bureaus of Lexington, Louisville,
and Northern Kentucky and Delta Airlines, the governor and members of the state
Tourism Cabinet’s Department of Travel will be calling on tour operators in
both Manchester and London selling the state as a destination for United Kingdom
travelers coming into the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
Airport.
The United Kingdom is the fourth largest international
market sending visitors to the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of
Commerce, with over 4.2 million British visitors traveling to the U.S. in 1999.
Kentucky is featured in over a dozen U.K. tour operator catalogs that are
distributed to travel agents throughout the U.K.
This sales mission is targeted to increase the number of U.K. tour operators that feature Kentucky as a destination for travelers headed to the U.S. Kentucky is represented in the U.K. by Destination Marketing Limited, a tourism marketing company that will arrange the sales calls and follow-up with the information requested. The sales mission will culminate with a London reception hosted by Governor Patton for key tour operators and travel trade media. Audio about the governor’s trip to England will be available on the state government NEWSLINER starting Thursday, July 27.
For additional information on the satellite feed or the
trade mission please contact the Communications Office.
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