Israel Prepares for the Papal Vist

TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV WILL HEAD THE INTER-MINISTERIAL PANEL PREPARING FOR THE VISIT OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

The Tourism Ministry launches a dedicated mini website in advance of the Papal visit under the slogan:

A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – A Bridge for Peace

Israel Government Press office  

In its first cabinet meeting, the Government today (5.4.09) decided that the Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov will head the inter-ministerial panel preparing for the May visit of Pope Benedict XVI.

 

Tourism Minister Misezhnikov announced today that a forum of representatives from all the relevant bodies related to the visit had been established, including the President's Residence, Government ministries, security forces, local authorities, the Chief Rabbinate and Yad Vashem. The forum will meet in the next few days to coordinate the necessary arrangements.

 

The Tourism Ministry continues with its preparations for the visit of the Pope under the slogan:  A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – A Bridge for Peace. Today, the ministry launched a dedicated mini-site: www.holyland-pilgrimage.org

 

The website will be supported by a Google and web 2.0 campaign in those countries which represent the most important source of pilgrim tourism to Israel (Italy, USA, Spain, Germany, France, Poland and Brazil). Currently available in English, the site will also be accessible in six languages in mid-April: Spanish, Italian, German, Polish, Portuguese and French. The site includes information on the Pope's itinerary, information on the holy Christian sites throughout Israel (from a religious aspect), pilgrimage routes, information on tour operators and travel agents catering to the pilgrim market and more. The Press Room will also offer relevant information for the hundreds of foreign journalists who are expected to accompany the Pope on his pilgrimage.

 

The Tourism Ministry is handling all aspects of the visit including marketing activities to promote pilgrimages to Israel during and after the Papal visit; renovations and preparations of the sites included in the Pope's itinerary; preparation of promotional material for distribution to the journalists accompanying the Pope; arranging tours and visits to tourist sites for the media delegations etc.

 

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: "The Pope's visit to the Holy Land inspires an atmosphere of understanding, reconciliation and peace between peoples and religions. His visit will encourage thousands of pilgrims around the world to follow in his footsteps."

 

Lydia Weitzman, Foreign Press Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism

Tel: 052 3584395   Email: tourism.gov.il@gmail.com

www.tourism.gov.il