Turkey hires Rani Rahav to bring back Israeli tourism

Rani Rahav, public-relations agent to the stars, has a new client - Turkey.

Specifically, the man famous for representing some of Israel's best-known names has been hired by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism after winning a tender to reinstate Turkey to favor in Israeli eyes.

His mandate is to improve Turkey's image among Israelis, after the diplomatic dispute that erupted between the two countries following Israel's military mission in Gaza led the numbers of Israelis visiting there to plummet, explains the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv.

"[We] a need to make a clear distinction between politics and tourism. Turkey loves Israeli tourists," Rahav told TheMarker yesterday. "It's important for us all that the friendly relations between the nations be protected."

The Turkish tourism office in Tel Aviv normally uses an advertising agency, but only resorts to PR firm when needed. Now it has formed two separate budgets. Advertising will be handled by Inbar Merhav Shaked.

Turkey had long been a favorite destination for Israelis. That changed after the diplomatic snarling that followed Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in January 2009. The Turkish Tourism Office in Tel Aviv also had its budget slashed, from $1 million in previous years to only $250,000 this year.