Release Archive
Israel Ministry of Tourism
Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner of Tourism, North and South America, oversaw Israel's presence at the recent USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association) Convention in Hawaii, at which Israel sponsored a gala dinner. The board of the USTOA will be touring Israel in April 2013 as guests of the Ministry of Tourism.
Monday, December 17, 2012
As America's largest and oldest tour operator to Israel, please understand when we say "we've been through this before." That's why we have a long and much-envied record of proficiency in adjusting arrangements and itineraries whenever necessary, and ensuring everyone's well-being.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
As part of its 16th annual Readers' Choice Awards this month, Recommend magazine, geared towards travel agents and industry professionals, voted Israel "Best Romance/Honeymoon Destination" and, for the sixth consecutive year, the "Best-Selling Destination - Middle East." Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, accepted the award as presented from Recommend magazine Editorial Director Lorri Robbins.
Monday, November 19, 2012
A group of leading American chefs, including Hugh Acheson, Viet Pham, Ben Ford and Maury Rubin, were recently hosted by the Israel Ministry of Tourism on a week-long tour of the country's trendsetting culinary landscape.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Israel is far more than the vibrant beaches, buzzing nightlife and thriving arts scene of Tel Aviv - or the historic holy sites, colorful markets and innovative museums in Jerusalem; it is a land of many exciting destinations and attractions packed into a country just the size of New Jersey.
Friday, November 9, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) participated in the annual FITA International Tourism Fair of the Americas last month in Mexico City, where Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, spoke with some of the event's 60,000 attendees about tourism to Israel.
Friday, October 19, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism took part in a Christian media convention last month hosted by COICOM, the Latin American Confederation of Communicators, Pastors, Christian Leaders and Mass Media, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
A total of 2.3 million tourists arrived in Israel between January and August 2012, a 7% increase compared to the same period last year and a new all-time high in travel to Israel.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The Israel Opera will host the fourth annual Masada Opera Festival, featuring a mega-production of Puccini's Turandot at Masada near the Dead Sea, in June 2013. Set atop a spectacular stage at the foot of Masada, the festival will include five days of opera performances, including Turandot (June 6,8,9 and 10) featuring the Israeli Opera, Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion and international opera singers, as well as a one-off performance of Orff's Carmina Burana, June 7.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
This fall and coming spring, Israel will play host to two of the world's unique birding festivals, the Hula Valley Bird Festival (November 11-18, 2012) and the Eilat Birds Festival (March 13-20, 2013). Israel's Hula Valley annually welcomes such rare migratory species as the Greater Spotted and Eastern Imperial Eagles, along with local species including the Black Francolin and Pygmy Cormorant.
Friday, September 21, 2012
A new interactive exhibition simulating the aging process, entitled "Dialogue with Time," opened this month at the Israel Children's Museum - Holon near Tel Aviv. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to tour through several experiential spaces, including: "The Tunnel of Questions," a room simulating life as an elderly person, and a game room featuring discussions about stereotype. The tour also includes a photo room simulating the appearance of participants through the aging process and ends with visitors choosing between one of two doors offering different surprise endings.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Travelers to Israel can now experience an insider's view of the vibrant Mahane Yehuda food market in Jerusalem with new "Shuk Bites" guided food tours. The Shuk Bites tours provide travelers with taste-testings of various items throughout the market, including fresh produce, boutique cheeses and breads, as well as organic coffee, pastries and international spices.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Athletes from Israel and around the world will arrive in Jerusalem next spring for the third annual Jerusalem International Marathon on March 1, 2013. Taking place during Israel's 65th anniversary year, the race will include 26-mile, 13-mile and 6.2-mile running routes through a unique course combining historic sites, beautiful landscapes and modern attractions.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Israeli starchitect Ron Arad will present his new monumental multimedia installation work, 720°, at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, August 16 - September 5, 2012. Commissioned as part of the 2012 Jerusalem Season of Culture festival, the new work is composed of 5,600 hanging silicon rods projecting 360-degree screenings of films and video artworks -- and is being housed in the Israel Museum's Isamu Noguchi-designed Billy Rose Art Garden.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Art enthusiasts arriving in Israel can now obtain an insider's perspective into local Israeli art and culture with the new Beersheba Art Experience tours. Taking place in the city of Beersheba in the northern tip of Israel's Negev Desert, the interactive art experience offers photography, drawing and family-friendly art tours led by local artists, as well as workshops focused on felt-making, sculpting, printmaking, batik and musical improvisation.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tel Aviv's Hilton Beach was ranked among the "Top Ten Gay Beaches in the World" this month in a survey by GayCities.com. Situated beneath the cliff housing the Hilton Hotel, Tel Aviv's popular public beach is often packed with international travelers and local sun worshipers, and is known for its weekly parties and vibrant summertime events.
Monday, July 23, 2012
UNESCO named the Nahal Me'arot caves in northern Israel as a new World Heritage Site this month, the seventh tourism site in Israel to be to added to the prestigious list. Located on the western slope of northern Israel's Carmel Mountain range, the series of four caves--Tabun, Jamal, el-Wad and Skhul--was defined by UNESCO as a "key site" that illustrates a fascinating link in human evolution.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Travelers and sport enthusiasts traveling to Israel can now experience the Christian holy sites in the Galilee and Jerusalem by riding one of the new "Biking the Path of Jesus" tours. The 12-mile biking routes are available in two-day or week-long tours and depart from destinations in northern Israel, including Nazareth.
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism participated in the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) Congressional Caucus in Washington D.C. last month as a lead-up to next year's USTOA out-of-country board meeting in Israel.
Friday, July 6, 2012
iTravelJerusalem.com, a new easy-to-use website offering travel deals, events and information highlighting tourism to Jerusalem, launched this week. Initiated by the Jerusalem Development Authority, the new website employs Google Street views and HD videos to provide travelers with a virtual tour of Jerusalem's collection of historical holy sites and modern attractions.
Friday, June 22, 2012
More than 83,000 travelers from around the world arrived in Israel this month for the kick-off of Madonna's MDNA World Tour 2012 in Tel Aviv and several performances of Bizet's Carmen at Masada as part of the third annual Masada Opera Festival.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Hundreds of attendees of the 2012 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) joined Haim Gutin, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, Danny Saadon, Vice President of EL AL Israel Airlines for North and Central America, and Dr. Frank Page, President and CEO of the Executive Committee of the SBC, at the first-ever "Celebrate Israel" breakfast this morning in New Orleans.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism will make its premiere appearance at the annual gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in New Orleans next week. On Monday, June 18th, the Israel Ministry of Tourism will host a special "Celebrate Israel" breakfast for the attendees of the SBC, followed by a special ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Ever since journalist and travel-guru, Peter Greenberg, launched his one-hour Royal Tour travelogues on The Travel Channel a decade ago, he has recorded unique travel experiences while being "guided" by the King of Jordan, the President of Mexico, the President of Peru and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, to name a few. Now that the show has been upgraded to the U.S.'s PBS (Public Broadcasting System), Greenberg's latest venture has him touring Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Popular American actor David Arquette, best known for his roles in the romantic comedy Never Been Kissed and the Scream comedic horror film series, arrived in Israel this week to film a brand-new series for the Travel Channel. The weekly, half-hour travel series, titled Mile High, is co-produced by Arquette and Omar Epps, who starred in FOX's long-running medical drama, House--and who was hosted in Israel earlier this year, as part of an initiative spearheaded by Haim Gutin, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, met with Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Head of the Archdiocese in New York, this week as part of efforts to increase tourism to the Holy Land in 2012. The meeting was part of an overall initiative by The Israel Ministry of Tourism aimed at promoting tourism to Israel's Christian holy sites and attractions during what is on track to be the best year ever for tourism to the Holy Land.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Tel Aviv will kick off its annual Pride Week 2012 this week through June 8th, featuring live musical performances, dance parties and a massive parade. Voted the Best City of 2011 by GayCities.com, Tel Aviv is a hotspot for LGBT travelers, known for its buzzing beaches, nonstop nightlife and thriving art scene.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Cast members of the hit CBS television drama series, CSI: NY and CSI: Miami arrived in Israel yesterday as part of a week-long tour of the country. The group, which includes actors Jonathan Frederick Togo and Omar Benson Miller (stars of CSI: Miami) and Carmine Giovinazzo and AJ Buckley (stars of CSI: NY), will visit the Old City of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea and Masada and the Galilee, among other tourism destinations, during what is on track to be the best year ever for tourism to Israel.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Israel Readies For Massive Masada Opera Festival Featuring Performances Of Bizet's Carmen, June 7-12
Israel will host the third annual Masada Opera Festival, featuring five performances of Bizet's Carmen at the foot of Masada, June 7 and 9-12. The festival will take place in a specially crafted 'Opera Village', including a massive stage, sand dunes and food stalls, and featuring a mega-production of Carmen conducted by Israeli maestro Daniel Oren alongside the Israeli Opera Orchestra and Chorus, and international opera stars Anita Rachvelishvili and Marco Berti.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Israel was featured as the Travel Destination of the Year at last week's Equality Forum 2012, a global LGBT summit in Philadelphia. The Israel Ministry of Tourism had a booth at the summit, providing participants with information on LGBT travel to Israel, and participated in various events throughout the weekend.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Canadian tourism to Israel reached an all-time high in April 2012 with the arrival of 6,820 travelers, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year.
Friday, May 18, 2012
A group of prominent Christian pastors from Brazil arrived in the Holy Land last week as official guests of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. The group, including Ronald Azaro (Secretary of Tourism, Rio province), Victorio Gale Filho and Everaldo dias Pereira (Assembly of God Church), Hugo Leal Melo da Silva (Rio Catholic Church) and Isvanildo Oliveira dos Santos (Assembly of God Church in Cabo Frio), among others, met with Israel Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov, and Christian ministers from Israel and will tour holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem and the Galilee region.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A group of the country's top TV stars arrived yesterday in Israel as part of a week-long tour of the country, including Omar Epps (who stars in House), Mekhi Phifer (formerly of ER), Holly Robinson Peete, who appeared in the hit television series Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and 21 Jump Street, as well as actors Paul Johansson (One Tree Hill), AnnaLynne McCord (Nip/Tuck), Holt McCallany (CSI Miami), Zach Roerig (Vampire Diaries) and Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds).
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Israel Government Tourist Office - Canada has a launched a "Win a Trip to Israel" contest at this month's Toronto Jewish Film Festival, taking place through May 13.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Jerusalem's legendary Machane Yehuda open-air food market has developed into a gourmand wonderland, featuring more than 250 food stalls and vendors boasting a wide range of products -- from locally sourced produce, dairy products and delicacies to imported sweets and organic wines from Israel and around the world.
Monday, April 30, 2012
A new exhibition entitled "Good Night," detailing the transition from day to night and the experience of falling asleep, is now open in the Ruth Youth Wing of Art at Jerusalem's Israel Museum through January 31, 2013. The family-friendly exhibition features works by artists from Israel and around the world, including interactive installations, Judaica and Jewish ethnography, archaeology and illustrated books.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Travelers and music fans from around the world will arrive in Tel Aviv for the White City Music Festival, featuring an eclectic mix of jazz, funk, folk and rock & roll music concerts by artists from Israel and around the world at the Tel Aviv Namal, May 1-10, 2012. The festival, named after Tel Aviv's moniker as the "White City" for its collection of white stucco Bauhaus architecture, will be hosted by Grammy Award-winning singer Bobby McFerrin.
Friday, April 6, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) held two travel seminars this month which were attended by more than 300 travel agents in White Plains and Melville, New York. During the seminars, IMOT distributed various brochures and travel maps highlighting leisure and faith tourism to Israel. The seminars featured a trade show for travel agents, offering the opportunity to meet with leading Israel travel companies.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) participated this month in the annual New York Times Travel Show at New York's Javits Center. As part of the event, IMOT set up a special booth offering wine tasting workshops, brochures and maps highlighting travel to Israel; representatives also answered Israel tourism-related questions from attendees.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Popular American pop singer and Backstreet Boys member Howie D has invited 100 of his greatest fans to join him on his first-ever visit to Israel, September 2-11, 2012.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Jerusalem will host its first-ever International Ice Festival, featuring artistic ice sculpture displays, ice skating rinks and a special ice bar at the Old Jerusalem Train Station, today through April 13, 2012. The festival will transform the Old Jerusalem Train Station into a magical "ice world" showcasing dozens of specially commissioned colorful ice sculptures created by Chinese artists.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has launched a new online video competition (through March 18) offering travelers a chance to win a week-long trip for two to spend Easter in the Holy Land. To enter, travelers must submit a one-minute video clip detailing why they want to spend Easter in Israel, and ending with the phrase, "And that's why spending Easter in the Holy Land is so special."
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
For the fifth consecutive year, Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport was named one of the top airports in the Middle East in a recent survey by Airports Council International (ACI). The survey ranked airports based on more than 30 parameters voted on by millions of travelers, and described new technologies at Ben Gurion International Airport as being on "the forefront of the international security infrastructure."
Thursday, March 1, 2012
During his recent visit to New York, Israel's Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov met with a variety of luminaries including Ronald Lauder, former President of the World Jewish Congress and Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; and real-estate magnate Donald Trump who responded positively to the Minister's invitation to visit Israel this spring.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
On a visit to New York to promote tourism to Israel, Israel Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov met in New York last Friday with the leadership of the United States Tour Operators' Association (USTOA) whose member companies are responsible for sending millions of American tourists annually to all six continents.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Israel's Ministry of Tourism will make its debut participation at the annual gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) this June in New Orleans. The second largest Christian denomination in the United States after the Roman Catholic Church, there are 16 million Southern Baptists in the U.S., affiliated with some 45,000 churches.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism participated in the annual Boston Globe Travel Show, held at the Seaport World Trade Center last week. During the event, the Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) distributed brochures and maps highlighting leisure and faith travel to Israel, and offered a special hummus workshop and tasting to consumers from the greater Boston region.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Israel's Minister of Tourism spoke to 1,000 Christian leaders on Sunday morning at the National Religious Broadcasters' Convention annual Celebrate Israel breakfast. The Israel event has been a hallmark of every NRB convention for two decades, and this year the audience heard testimonies from Dr. Robert Schuller, Dr. Robert Stearns and Joseph Amaral. Each of these leaders received the Israel Ministry of Tourism's Faithful Ambassador Award, in appreciation of their support of Christian tourism to Israel.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Plans were announced this week for the construction of a major new 48,000-square-foot performing arts center and music and dance conservatory in Ashkelon in southern Israel. Designed by French architect Manuelle Gautrand in collaboration with Israeli architect Batya Swirk Malul, the center will boast two performance auditoriums, music and dance schools and a public square for outdoor performances.
Friday, February 17, 2012
International pop superstar Madonna has announced plans to kick off her upcoming world tour at Tel Aviv's Ramat Gan Stadium, May 31st. Making her fourth concert appearance in Israel, Madonna, who first performed in Israel in 1993 and twice in 2010, will present songs from her upcoming album, MDNA, as well as classics from her longstanding career.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism participated in the annual Educational Travel Conference (ETC) last month in Orlando, Florida. During the conference, the Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) offered an educational presentation highlighting niche travel aspects of tourism to Israel, and participated in the International Bazaar, ETC'S networking and trade show event.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tel Aviv was named the World's Best Gay City of 2011 in a recent survey on GayCities.com, sponsored by American Airlines, it was announced this month. The Israeli art, culture and nightlife metropolis received nearly half of the votes, with New York City, Toronto and Sao Paulo finishing behind.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Remains of a 1,600-year-old Byzantine bathhouse were exposed last week during an excavation project by the Israel Antiquities Authority near Moshav Tarum, outside of Jerusalem. The 65-by-65-foot bathhouse includes the frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium (warm room) and caldarium (hot room), as well as a courtyard attached to its northeast section.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) participated last week in the annual Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show at the Philadelphia Convention Center. During the event, representatives from IMOT presented a 30-minute video highlighting Israel's diverse sites and attractions, and interacted with attendees interested in learning more about travel to Israel in 2012.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Top North American travel journalists arrived in Tel Aviv this week, as part of the annual meeting of the Freelance Council of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Nearly 100 leading U.S. and Canadian travel journalists, broadcasters, photographers and filmmakers will spend a week and more touring Israel from north to south.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Athletes and travelers from around the world will arrive in Jerusalem for the second annual Jerusalem International Marathon, March 16. The event, which last year drew more than 10,000 runners from more than 40 nations, will include a full and half marathon, as well as a 10K run.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Jerusalem will host its 2nd annual International Opera Festival, featuring performances by world-renowned vocalists and musicians taking place around its Old City historic sites, in June and September 2012. In collaboration with the Israeli Opera, the festival will include a selection of opera, vocal and classical musical concerts in the Sultan's Pool beneath the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
To mark the upcoming Chanukah holiday, which begins this evening, the Israel Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with EL AL Israel Airlines, is re-launching its popular Chanukah microsite where visitors can log on and light virtual candles for each night of the eight-day holiday, also known as the "Festival of Lights."
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tourism to Israel set a new high in November 2011 with the arrival of 315,000 travelers, a 2% increase compared to November 2010. Also, 3.1 million travelers have arrived in Israel since the beginning of 2011, a 1% increase compared to the same period last year.
Friday, December 16, 2011
To mark the upcoming Chanukah holiday, which begins on the evening of December 20, the Israel Ministry of Tourism is re-launching its popular Chanukah microsite where visitors can log on and light virtual candles for each night of the eight-day holiday, also known as the "Festival of Lights."
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Israel Ministry of Tourism launched its upgraded website this week at www.goisrael.com, featuring brand-new navigation options, a scrolling picture gallery and information tools designed to assist travelers to Israel.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Travelers to Israel can now participate in a new reforestation project, "Forester for a Day," every Sunday through Friday in northern Israel's Carmel Forest region.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Israel Ministry of Tourism - Canada launched its new fall tourism advertising campaign, "Come Find the Israel in You," featuring TV commercials, print ads and bus-stop wraps last week during a press conference attended by tour operators, agents and members of the Canadian travel community.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art's new Herta and Paul Amir Building opened to the public this month after a series of special events, including concerts, an architecture symposium and a gala ceremony lead by Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Israel was voted the #2 tourism and sightseeing destination in the world by the readers of National Geographic Russia, it was announced this month.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Seventy-one veterans of the U.S. military completed a ten-day tour of Israel last Sunday as guests of Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, and the Israel Ministry of Tourism.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Thousands of American Christians are expected in Israel in December 2012 to pray for the poor of the world as part of Convoy of Hope's "Pray For Hope Pilgrimage."
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The first image from world-renowned artist Spencer Tunick's recent "Naked Sea" floating bodies installation at the Dead Sea surfaced this month. More than 1,200 Israelis and travelers from around the world took part in the installation, which was staged just before dawn on September 17 in support of the site in the finals of the New7Wonders of Nature competition.
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Israel Ministry of Tourism launched its new advertising campaign, "You'll Never be the Same - Come Find the Israel in You," last month in Brazil.
Friday, November 4, 2011
71 veterans of the U.S. military departed for Israel tonight from New York's JFK International Airport aboard EL AL Israel Airlines. They will spend ten days touring the country not in the customary tour bus - but on their own Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
More than 100 Israeli and Palestinian (and Italian) runners participated last week in the 8th annual Pope John Paul II Bethlehem-Jerusalem Peace Run. Beginning at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and ending at Jerusalem's Notre Dame Church, the race also featured a friendly soccer match between several participants and Italian football stars, including Albertini Demetrio, Luigi Di Biagio and Tommasi Damiano, among others, at Rachel's Crossing.
In addition, Jerusalem will also host its 2nd annual Jerusalem International Marathon on March 16, 2012.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, and other Israel tourism representatives attended the annual ABAV (Association of Brazilian Travel Agencies) travel fair last week in support of a new Israel tourism ad campaign in Brazil, "You'll Never be the Same - Come Find the Israel in You."
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
As part of its 15th Annual Readers' Choice Awards this month, the readers of Recommend magazine, consisting of travel agents and industry professionals, voted Israel as the Sexiest Romance/Honeymoon Destination - Middle East, and for the fifth consecutive year, Best-Selling Destination - Middle East.
Friday, October 21, 2011
A massive clock counting down the remaining hours for travelers to vote for the Dead Sea in the finals of the New7Wonders of Nature competition was last Sunday on Tel Aviv's Azrieli Tower by Israel Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov. Taking place through November 11, 2011, the New7Wonders of Nature competition is an international online competition ranking the top seven natural wonders of the world.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The Netanya Mosaic Art Festival will present a diverse collection of mosaic and contemporary artworks in the seaside town of Netanya near Tel Aviv, October 15-18. Taking place during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, the festival will showcase a specially commissioned mosaic display by artist Ruslan Sergeev on the Netanya Promenade, and feature a wide range of mosaics created by artists from Israel and around the world including a special mosaic in Atzmaut Square, as well as monumental sculpture on the lawn north of the Tsuk Gallery.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Eilat, southern Israel's seaside resort town, announced this month a new list of sport and music festivals now through April 2012.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Israel will play host to the 53rd annual Society of Polish American Travel Agents (SPATA), September 10-19. The convention will draw 100 travel agents, wholesalers, airlines, tour operators and other travel-related officials from Poland and the U.S., and include visits to popular tourism destinations in Israel including Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, the Dead Sea, Haifa, the Galilee and Tel Aviv, among others.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A coffee sleeve promoting the Dead Sea as one of the New7Wonders of Nature was released this week and can be picked up at participating coffee shops across North America. An initiative of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, each coffee sleeve features the slogan, "Anywhere else this would be just a lake, but this is the Dead Sea," and on the back, encourages travelers to vote for the Dead Sea by visiting its designated website, www.votedsea.com.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The Israel Ministry of Tourism announced plans this week to open a new international airport in Timna, just 11 miles north of the southern seaside resort town of Eilat in late summer 2014. To be named after the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, Israel's new international airport will replace existing airports in Ovda and Eilat, and feature a state-of-the-art light rail that will transport travelers to downtown Eilat, as well as long- and short-term overnight parking.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sharon Katzav has been appointed Regional Director for the Israel Ministry of Tourism - Northeast USA, taking over for Michal Itzik, who has returned to Israel after serving as the previous director for the past four years, it was announced this week.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Jazz musicians and aficionados from Israel and around the world will converge on the seaside resort town of Eilat for the 25th annual Red Sea International Jazz Festival, August 21-24.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The 36th annual Jerusalem International Arts and Crafts Fair will showcase works by more than 150 artists from Israel and around the world at the Sultan's Pool in the Old City, August 15-27.
Friday, July 29, 2011
After much investment in infrastructure to improve the spiritual experience and physical comfort of tourists and pilgrims, the Qasr el Yahud baptism site on the River Jordan, known as the place of Jesus' baptism, is now open daily to the public. Recognized since the 4th century as the site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, Qasr el Yahud is considered the third most important site for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land (after the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem).
Friday, July 15, 2011
Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the Dead Sea last week, organizers of the "Vote for the Dead Sea" campaign have released a new viral YouTube video promoting the wonders of the region and urging travelers to vote for the site in the finals of the New7Wonders of Nature online competition.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Travelers to the Old City of Jerusalem can now tour the city's historical, religious and cultural sites with new self-guided digital JerusaleMP3 walking tours. The digital tours come complete with maps and written explanations available in four languages, enriching the touring experience through the Old City. The multimedia audio tours also include video and can be operated from a smartphone or similar audio device, and are free for download.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Jerusalem has been voted #1 Best City in the Middle East, and Tel Aviv #2, by the readers of Travel+Leisure, considered by many as America's leading travel magazine (Cairo scored #3).
Friday, July 8, 2011
The annual Epson World of Underwater Images Competition will take place in the southern Israel resort town of Eilat, November 14-19. In advance of the competition, both professional and amateur photographers are invited to submit images taken underwater in any natural water source around the world, including seas, ocean, lakes and rivers, as part of the Epson World ShootOut, August 1-8.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by Israel Tourism Commissioner Stas Misezhnikov and other officials, visited the Dead Sea yesterday where he voted for the site as part of the New7Wonders of Nature online competition.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Travel to Israel reached a new all-time high last month with the arrival of 268,000 international tourists staying more than one night--a 5% increase compared to May 2010. Also, approximately 1,168,000 tourists arrived in Israel between January and May 2011--4% more than the same period last year.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The ancient City of David, the original settled neighborhood of Jerusalem, has announced this week a new selection of innovative tours highlighting recent and past archeological discoveries taking place throughout the summer.
Friday, June 24, 2011
In celebration of its long history as an epicenter for artists and creative thinkers, Jerusalem will present its Season of Culture Festival featuring a series of riveting artistic exhibitions, spanning the disciplines of dance, music, poetry, philosophy, visual art and new media.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Cruise travel to Israel is expected to reach an all-time high this month with the confirmed arrival of 50,000 tourists and crew docking in the Israel port cities of Ashdod and Haifa.
Friday, June 3, 2011
From June 15-22, Jerusalem will host its second annual Jerusalem Light Festival transforming the Old City into a living light art display with illuminated images projected onto its various ancient sites and attractions. The festival will feature artistic light exhibits designed by local and international light artists throughout the Old City, as well as street events and performances, a lighting fair in the Davidson Center Archeological Garden and four different routes around the Old City following the illuminated sites and installations.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Canadian heartthrob and pop star Justin Bieber performed in Israel for the first time ever last month in front of a sold-out crowd at Tel Aviv's' Hayarkon Park. In addition to his one-off performance, Bieber also toured holy sites in Jerusalem and participated in a game of pick-up basketball with local teens.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Four stars of the FOX TV drama House arrived in Israel this week on a tour designed to show off the best of Israel. The four actors--Lisa Edelstein, Amber Tamblyn, Omar Epps and Jesse Spencer--will Tweet and blog about the trip as they travel, and are expected to share their experiences in media interviews on their return to the United States.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
After more than two years of extensive restoration work, Haifa's golden-domed Baha'i Shrine was unveiled in its resplendent glory this month featuring nearly 12,000 new porcelain gilded titles. The project included the restoration of the interior and exterior of the original structure built in 1909, as well as conservation measures intended to protect the Shrine from potential weather damages.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Israel Ministry of Tourism hosted last week a pre-launch tour of the all-new 37-mile Gospel Trail around the Sea of Galilee. An initiative of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with KKL-JNF and the National Parks Authority, the Gospel Trail offers pilgrims the opportunity to walk and cycle through specially design footpaths along the Sea of Galilee.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
As part of its 15th Annual Readers' Choice Awards this month, the readers of Recommend magazine, consisting of travel industry professionals and travelers, voted Israel as the Best-Selling Destination - Middle East. Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, accepted the award this month as presented by Recommend magazine Editorial Director Lorri Robbins.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Freelance Council of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) will meet in Israel in January 2012. As many as 100 leading U.S. and Canadian travel journalists, broadcasters, photographers and filmmakers are expected to spend a week and more touring Israel from north to south. The meeting opens in Tel Aviv on January 19 and will comprise council meetings as well as in-depth touring opportunities throughout the country.
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Israel Ministry of Tourism announced this week the launch of its new advertising campaign, "Come Find the Israel in You." The campaign, conceived and created by Bodden Partners, will feature real travelers as they visit Israel for the first time and explore the country's most popular sites.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Israel Ministry of Tourism recently hosted a private reception in celebration of Emmy Award-winning journalist and longtime NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher's new book, Walking Israel, in New York City. In Walking Israel, Fletcher shares stories from his two-week, 110-mile journey from Rosh Hanikra in the north to Ashkelon in the south--detailing his experiences and encounters with the people that inhabit the coastal towns along the way.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Israel's 300 days of sunshine per year, diverse terrain and state-of-the-art facilities make it a world-class sporting destination unlike any other. This year and through 2012, Israel will host a wide-range of sport marathons and fitness competitions.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
American rockstar and Kiss frontman Gene Simmons has just wrapped up a week of travel in Israel alongside longtime girlfriend Shannon Tweed and their son, where they were filming two episodes of the hit reality TV show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels. As guests of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, Gene and his crew toured and filmed in several destinations around Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa, the city of his birth.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
More than 10,000 runners from around the world competed in the first-ever Jerusalem International Marathon last Friday. Consisting of a full, half, 10-kilometer and 4.2-kilometer marathon course, the race brought runners through the winding streets and various sites around Jerusalem, including the Knesset, the Old City, Sultan's Pool, Mount Zion, the German Colony, the Jerusalem Promenade and the Mount of Olives.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Former President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were keynote speakers at a private reception sponsored by the Israel Ministry of Tourism last week, as part of the Forum Leadership Conference month at Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL.
Monday, March 28, 2011
The famed 33 Chilean miners who spent 69 days trapped underground last year completed a recent pilgrimage tour to Israel along with their spouses, as guests of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. The group of brave miners visited Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Masada, Caesarea and Tel Aviv-Jaffa, as well as the residence of Israel's President Shimon Peres where they were hosted for an official reception. Included above are a selection of images taken during their stay.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, addressed last week's press conference sponsored by Vatican pilgrimage travel organization ORNIT, in cooperation with the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, where he is pictured alongside Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
A new Catholic pilgrimage itinerary to Israel entitled, "In the Footsteps of the Virgin Mary," was recently launched by the Israel Ministry of Tourism. The new guide, written specifically for pilgrimage tour operators, offers suggested itineraries for Christian pilgrims seeking to enrich and enhance a spiritual experience in the Holy Land.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Considered Israel's most influential art event, the 4th annual Fresh Paint Festival will attract artists and art lovers from around the world to the Reality Foundation's Botanic Garden in Tel Aviv, April 5-9. More than 30 galleries as well as Tel Aviv's Independent Artists' Greenhouse will showcase the works of 60 up-and-coming Israeli artists, all of which have been selected by a professional artist panel.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Celebrating its 50th year and evolution from a modest series of classical concerts in Caesarea to one of the most important arts and culture events in the world, the 2011 Israel Festival will feature three weeks of music, dance and theater performances throughout Israel, May 23 - June 18.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Close to 1000 delegates to the annual National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in Nashville attended the Discover Israel breakfast sponsored by the Israel Ministry of Tourism. The guests heard speeches by Israeli diplomats and several leaders of key Christian organizations, each underscoring the message that after visiting Israel, "you will never be the same."
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Jerusalem's recently renovated Israel Museum has released a calendar of art exhibitions showcasing a diverse range of works by international and Israeli artists through February 2012.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Israel will play host to two international cycling competitions this spring, showcasing the unique and diverse terrain of the small Mediterranean nation.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Following an invitation from Israel Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov, last year's rescued Chilean miners and their spouses will travel to Israel as part of a "Pilgrimage of Thanks in the Holy Land," February 23-March 2. The miners' tour will include visits to various Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Garden of Gethsemane and the Room of the Last Supper, as well as the Western Wall and King David's Tomb.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The highly anticipated 2nd annual Masada Opera Festival will feature a world-class selection of operatic performances taking place at the footsteps of Masada in the Judean Desert and in various churches and Sultan's Pool in Jerusalem, June 1-12.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Athletes and travelers from around the world will travel to Israel to compete in the first-ever Jerusalem International Marathon, March 25. The race will begin at the Knesset building and bring runners through the rich and vast Jerusalem landscape, offering participants the choice between 6.2-, 13.1- and 26-mile courses, ending at the finish line in Sacher Park.
Friday, January 28, 2011
The four-month-long Walk About Love Festival will open more than 620 miles of hiking paths to travelers to trek the entirety of Israel's diverse landscape, February 23 - June 4. Over the course of 100 days, participants will hike through Israel's diverse landscape of deserts, forests, rivers, lakes, beaches and mountains with the opportunity to meet local residents along the way. The festival will start off with a two-day musical parade and opening reception at Migdalor Beach in Eilat, and guide travelers through the lunar-like landscape in Eilat to the Ramon Crater and through the Judean Desert to Jerusalem, beginning February 27.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Travelers, Christian pilgrims and religious leaders from around the world will visit the Qasr el Yahud holy site on the Jordan River, considered the third most important holy site for Christians, to celebrate the annual Feast of the Epiphany, January 18. The festival, which celebrates Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River as stated in the New Testament, also takes place at the site where the ancient Israelites crossed the Jordan River when entering Canaan approximately 3,500-years-ago.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Classical music lovers from around the world will travel to Israel for the 10th annual Red Sea Classical Music Festival in the southern resort city of Eilat, January 6-8. The festival will showcase world-renowned Maestro Valery Gergiev conducting more than 290 musicians and soloists from the Mariinsky Choir, the Children's Choir and orchestra of the Mariinsky Opera Company (St. Petersburg), and feature presentations of Prokofiev's War and Peace, Verdi's Requiem and Gustav Mahler's Symphony #2.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Your chance to win a free trip to Israel begins now. Please visit www.goisrael.com/Chanukah and enter the first keyword: Modiin. Participants can register throughout the Chanukah holiday.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Beginning on December 3, the Northern Israeli city of Haifa will play host to the "Holiday of Holidays" festival--a month-long celebration featuring four consecutive weekends filled with Chanukah, Christmas and Eid al-Adha themed-activities.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The 3,000,001st tourist to arrive in Israel in 2010 touched down at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport today on a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, setting a new all-time high for tourism to Israel.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Inspired and intrigued by the final tale of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, travelers from around the world are flocking to the Israeli town of Ramle to visit the gravesite of "Harry Potter."
Monday, November 22, 2010
The fifth annual Mediterranean International Wine & Spirit Challenge, also known as Terravino, will take place around the Dead Sea in Israel, November 21-27. The competition will showcase more than 700 wines and spirits from 25 countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, USA, Australia and South Africa, competing for best wine of country, best red and white wine, best kosher Israeli wine and best boutique wine, among others.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Israel Harley Davidson Club participated in a promotional ride around the contours of the Dead Sea last week in advance of next year's Love-the-Dead-Sea Bike Weekend. The bikers' ride was organized to increase awareness of the Dead Sea, one of Israel's most popular tourism sites which welcomes more than 1.5 million travelers per year.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tel Aviv, Israel's hip coastal city, has been included in a new list of Lonely Planet's Top Ten Cities in the World, it was announced last week. Hailed for its arts and music scene and relaxed culture, Tel Aviv was featured as the third-best city on the list behind New York City and Tangier.
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Carmel Tunnel, a new traffic route and the longest of its kind in Israel, will open under strict eco-friendly standards next month in Haifa, Israel's chief port and third-largest city.
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Israel Ministry of Tourism entered into a new partnership last month with ASTA, the American Society of Travel Agents, as the exclusive travel destination sponsor of the association's Green Program.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has launched a new website targeted at the Evangelical Christian market this month. The new website, www.evangelicalisraelexperience.com, includes general information about travel to Israel, as well as news items, places of interest, virtual tours, events, videos and itineraries for key cities in Israel that contain important Christian holy sites.
Friday, October 15, 2010
The Israel Ministry of Tourism announced the release of the new iSrael iPhone and iPad application--providing travelers with detailed information on sites, tours, iSraelaccommodation and events in Israel.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Legendary British heavy metal rocker and former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne arrived in Israel last week where he performed in front of thousands of travelers and concertgoers at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv. Ozzy, accompanied by his wife and personal manager Sharon, also visited several tourist sites in Jerusalem during his first-ever trip to Israel, including the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Israel Ministry of Tourism, in coordination with senior representatives of the international tourism community and El Al Airlines, will host "Where Else: Israel"--a countrywide national convention for tour operators and leading decision-makers in the international travel industry, December 2-9.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Approximately 280,000 travelers arrived in Israel in August 2010--a new all-time high for the month and a 7% increase compared to August 2009. Another record was set for travel to Israel between January and August 2010 with the arrival of 2.2 million tourists, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year and 10% greater than 2008--Israel's record year for tourism.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
A priceless 2,200-year-old gold coin was discovered this week during excavations at Tel Kedesh in northern Israel. The gold coin is believed to have been minted in Alexandria by Ptolemy V in 191 BC. The head of the coin depicts Arsinoe II Philadelphus, wife of Ptolemy II--the king of Egypt from 283 BC to 246 BC, and the tail side features an inscription of her name and two overlapping cornucopias decorated with fillets.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
NBA All-Star and recent New York Knicks' signee Amare Stoudemire arrived in Israel last week, his first-ever visit to the Holy Land, after learning his mother has Jewish roots.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The historic Tel Aviv-Jaffa train station, located between hip Neve Tzedek and the Mediterranean Sea, has recently been transformed into a new entertainment and leisure center after a 10-year restoration project.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Israel tourism recorded two all-time highs this month with 1.6 million tourists arriving in the first half of 2010, a 39% increase compared to the same period last year, and 73,188 U.S. travelers arriving in June--the best month ever for U.S. travel to Israel.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Herod's Gate, the iconic gate leading into the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, has reopened after a four-month restoration project. The Herod's Gate conservation project was spearheaded by the Israel Antiquities Authority Conservation Department, and included extensive cleaning of the wall's facades and stones and the removal of dirt, particles and moisture penetrating into the fabric of the city wall.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Tel Aviv will host a plethora of cultural events, festivals and musical and dance performances this summer, including Opera in Hayarkon Park, Thursdays at the Jaffa Flea Market, Musix Parade and more.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Jerusalem has been voted #1 Best City in Africa and the Middle East, and Tel Aviv #3, by the readers of Travel+Leisure, considered by many as America's leading travel magazine (Cape Town scored #2).
Monday, July 12, 2010
The first section of the new 80-mile Sea of Galilee Mountain Bike Trail opened last month in the Upper Galilee region in Israel. Stretching from Capernaum to the Arik Bridge, the first leg features several rest and picnic areas, easily navigable trails and unrestricted access to the sea's beaches and nature reserves. Travelers may also rent mountain bicycles and helmets and receive guidance by the trail's professional bikers.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Israeli tour guides and travel operators returned to Bethlehem last week as part of a new project by the Israel Ministry of Tourism and tourism authorities in the Palestinian Authority.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Association for Tourism launched its new Visit-TLV iPhone application last week, the first of its kind for a city or tourism association in Israel. The Visit-TLV iPhone app is free, and provides travelers with images, descriptions and locations of Tel Aviv's most popular attractions, including museums, restaurants, bars, parks and hotels.
Monday, June 28, 2010
As part of its ten-year anniversary, iExplore.com has launched a special travel to Israel promotional deal this week. Visitors to iExplore.com will be greeted by a special travel-to-Israel promotion, offering an 8-day and 7-night guided-tour of Israel for $1,695--a $1,000 savings from the original price, for this week only.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tel Aviv's annual White Night celebration will feature various musical and theater performances as well as art and cultural events throughout the city, July 1.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The OECD Tourism Committee has announced it will hold its 86th annual conference in Jerusalem for the first time ever, October 20-22. The OECD (Organization for Co-operative Development) Tourism Conference will include 50 tourism ministers from Israel and around the world, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Mr. Shimon Peres, World Tourism Organization Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, as well as heads of the international tourism industry.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
More than a hundred 3,500-year-old intact religious artifacts and other items were discovered last week during excavations led by the Israel Antiquities Authority in a natural hollow in the bedrock at Tel Qashish near Yokneam in northern Israel.
Monday, June 21, 2010
More than 40,000 travelers and opera fans from around the world arrived in Israel last week for two performances at the base of Masada of Verdi's Nabucco--the classic story about the Jews' expulsion from Jerusalem by the the Babylonian King Nabucco, or Nebuchadnezzar--and a special concert with world-renowned diva Jessye Norman presented by the Israeli Opera.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
More than 500 Christian travelers from around the world gathered at the southern steps of the Old City of Jerusalem's Temple Mount yesterday to celebrate Shavuot, or Pentecost. According to the New Testament, Jesus trekked to the Temple Mount on Shavuot and would have walked up the southern steps on his route.
Friday, June 4, 2010
In a joint effort with the city of Rome and the Italian government and its conservation institutions, The International Conservation Center "CittÀ di Roma," Israel's first center for conservation and antiquities training, opened this month in the Old City of Acre.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Caesarea Golf Course, Israel's first international golf course, reopened last year after an extensive 18-month renovation project by world-renowned golf course architect Pete Dye.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The 43rd Jerusalem Day will feature a selection of cultural events, theatrical tours and musical performances, June 11-13. The Jerusalem Day events will feature musical performances by: Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors; Israeli performers Hadag Nachash, Ivri Lider, Shlomi Saranga and Ehud Banai; as well as a special concert by legendary U.S. band Kool and the Gang. All musical performances will take place in Jerusalem's Sacher Park, June 11-12.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
A record-high 317,000 travelers arrived in Israel last month, a 26% increase compared to the same period last year and a 9% increase compared to April 2008--the best year ever for travel to Israel. 1,063,000 travelers arrived in Israel during the first four months of 2010, a 44% increase over last year and a 13% increase over 2008.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Jerusalem was voted one of the world's "Top 10 Culture and Sightseeing Destinations" in the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2010 awards, the only city in the Middle East and Africa to earn such honors.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The 49th Israel Festival will showcase more than 80 musical, dance and theater performances by Israeli and international artists in Israel, May 25 through June 11.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Hundreds of athletes from around the world traveled to Israel last month to participate in the 7th John Paul II Peace Run. The six-mile Peace Run, part of the John Paul II Games, included athletes from Italy, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Participants began at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Jesus' birthplace, and continued through Rachel's Crossing and the Old City of Jerusalem.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Travel to Israel reached another all-time high last month with 313,000 tourists arriving in March, a 56% increase over the same period last year, and 9% more than the previous record set in March 2000. "We are thrilled to see this continued increase of travel to Israel in the first quarter of 2010," says Arie Sommer, Commissioner of Tourism, North and South America. "We hope this trend continues throughout the rest of the year."
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
This Earth Day, Israel's Ministry of Tourism, North America is launching a 24-month promotion underscoring Israel's pivotal role in the worldwide environmental movement: ISRAEL: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF GREEN.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Israel has announced it will host Travel Leaders' annual International Summit in Jerusalem, April 23-25. One of the largest leisure and business travel agency networks in the world, Travel Leaders' International Summit will provide participants with detailed insight and education on Jerusalem as a premier international travel destination.
Friday, April 16, 2010
The recently opened Utopia Orchid Park features a unique 131,500-square-foot indoor botanical garden at Kibbutz Bahan in the Emek Hefer region north of Tel Aviv. The Utopia Orchid Park includes an indoor orchid garden with more than 20,000 orchids from different species from around the world; a rainforest with tens of thousands of tropical plants, including carnivorous plants, waterfalls and lush greenery; and a butterfly garden and animal park with a wide range of animals and birds.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Approximately 222,000 travelers arrived in Israel last month, a 46% increase compared to the same period last year and the greatest amount of travelers ever to visit Israel in the month of February.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
A reborn Hurva Synagogue will open to the public on March 15, after an extensive four-year construction project in the Old City of Jerusalem. Built in 1864 atop ruins of an earlier synagogue, the Hurva Synagogue was the largest and considered the most important synagogue in Jerusalem. It was destroyed in 1948 during Israel's War of Independence. After the city was reunified in 1967, a 52-foot arch was erected on the site to commemorate the giant dome of the destroyed building, and this arch has been incorporated into the dome that is the centerpiece of the new building.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Design Museum Holon, Israel's new art and design museum, will open on March 4 with its debut exhibit, The State of Things: Design and the 21st Century.
Friday, March 5, 2010
A rare 1,400-year-old wine press was discovered this month during excavations near Nahal Soreq between Beit Shemesh and Ashdod, Israel. The massive 21-by-54-foot octagonal wine press is one of the largest presses ever to be discovered in Israel, and is believed to be from the Byzantine period.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Israel placed in the top five countries viewed most favorably by Americans in a new Gallup poll released earlier this month. Israel ranked fifth in the poll with a 67% approval rating after Canada, Britain, Germany and Japan.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thousands of travelers and athletes from around the world will arrive in Israel for the 18th Jerusalem International Half Marathon, March 18. Participants will choose between a 13.1-mile half marathon or 6.2-mile fun run.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Flagstones from a 1,500-year-old street were discovered this month during an excavation in the Old City of Jerusalem. The ancient street follows the same course as the present-day David Street in the Old City and provides evidence supporting the Madaba Map--a 1,400-year-old mosaic map which depicted the Land of Israel in the Byzantine period and the entrance to Jerusalem from the west that led to a single, central thoroughfare on that side of the city.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Israel announced last week an exciting lineup of musical superstars that will perform in Tel Aviv this summer. Legendary British rock star Sir Elton John will play at Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv on June 17, his first concert in Israel in 17 years. Elton John first performed in Tel Aviv in 1970, and again in 1993 at Hayarkon Park. Rod Stewart will also play at Ramat Gan Stadium, July 1.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The first-ever Tour d'Israel will feature a five-day, 480-mile cycling competition throughout Israel, March 17-22. The Tour d'Israel will offer participants unrivaled views of the diverse landscape of Israel. Riders will begin atop the snow-capped Mount Hermon in the north and travel through the Galilee, Nazareth, around the contours of the Mediterranean, Jerusalem, Masada, the Dead Sea, Be'er Sheva, Negev Desert, and finish the race on the shores of the Red Sea in Eilat.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Grammy-award winning musician Carlos Santana will perform in Israel as part of his "Supernatural Santana" 2010 Summer Tour at Tel Aviv's Blumfield Stadium, June 3. The rock legend will perform hits from his entire music collection alongside a ten-member band. The concert follows performances by Beyonce, Paul McCartney and Madonna this past year.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A new Guinness World Record was set for the largest serving of hummus this week in the multi-cultural village of Abu Ghosh near Jerusalem, Israel. The record-breaking hummus dish weighed 8,992 pounds and was spread into a 20-foot satellite dish, beating the previous Guinness World Record set in Lebanon two months earlier.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
In honor of its 25th anniversary, the Israeli Opera will present two sunrise performances of Verdi's Nabucco and a special concert with world-renowned diva Jessye Norman at the footsteps of Masada, June 3-5.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Israman Negev 2010 and the 27th International Ein Gedi Race will attract world-class athletes to Israel, January 29 and February 20. The Israman competition will feature a 2.5-mile swim, a 111-mile bike ride and a 26-mile run in the mountains around the southern Israeli resort town of Eilat, January 29. Athletes may also participate in the Half Israman competition, which includes a 1.1-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A new system ranking Israel's approximately 9,000 bed and breakfasts, known as zimmerim, has launched this month due to a significant increase in rural tourism in Israel.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The 5th Eilat Chamber Music Festival will attract music lovers and travelers from around the world to the southern Israeli resort town of Eilat, February 18-27.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The remains of a 2,000-year-old residential building from the time of Jesus were discovered this week during an archaeological excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority near the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
Monday, January 4, 2010
2.7 million tourists vacationed in Israel in 2009, making it the second-best year for tourism in Israel's 60-year history, just 11% less than the record set in 2008.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Christian leaders gathered in Israel today for the traditional pre-Christmas and New Year's reception hosted by the Israel Ministry of Tourism. The conference featured a peace-oriented speech by Director-General Noaz Bar Nir (center), as well as heads of the Latin, Greek Orthodox, Orthodox, Ethiopian, Lutheran and Scottish Churches in Israel. Monsignor Antonio Franco, Vatican Ambassador to Israel, was also in attendance, along with Anglican Bishop Suheil Dawani, Friar Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Reverend Malcolm Hedding, and Elias Al Arja, Chairman of the Palestinian Hotels Association.
Friday, December 18, 2009
To mark the upcoming Chanukah holiday, which begins on the evening of December 11, the Israel Ministry of Tourism is launching a dedicated Chanukah microsite, where travelers can log on and light virtual candles for each night of the eight-day holiday, also known as the "Festival of Lights." The site was developed in New York in cooperation with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and is now online at chanukah.goisrael.com.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The 9th Red Sea International Music Festival will showcase world-renowned composers and more than 250 musicians from Russia and Israel in the southern resort town of Eilat, January 14-16, 2010. The festival will open with a special performance of Verdi's La Traviata performed by St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Opera and led by Israeli conductor Dan Ettinger.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
To mark the upcoming Chanukah holiday, which begins on the evening of December 11, the Israel Ministry of Tourism is launching a dedicated Chanukah microsite, where travelers can log on and light virtual candles for each night of the eight-day holiday, also known as the "Festival of Lights."
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Athletes from around the world will travel to Israel for the Veolia Desert Challenge around the contours of the Dead Sea, December 5. The annual Veolia Desert Challenge will include several fitness competitions: an 18-mile night race through the desert scenery between December 4 and 5; a 28-mile mountain bike race; the Ultimate Challenge--the longest and most challenging duathlon in Israel; and the Challenge Cycle Race--a non-competitive 15-mile course through Nahal Pratzim and Sodom.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The annual Abu Ghosh Musical Winter Concert series will feature classical and folk music performances at the Kiryat Ye'arim Church in the picturesque hillside village of Abu Ghosh near Jerusalem, every Saturday at noon from November 2009 through March 2010.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tourism to Israel hit an all-time high of 333,000 travelers in the month of October, a 9% increase from the same period last year, which was the previous record-high for travel to Israel. Also, Israel saw a 20% increase in cruise travel with 23,500 tourists arriving on cruise ships, and a 6% increase in the number of tourists who visited Israel and stayed for a minimum of one night compared with October 2008.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The largest collection of Roman-period coins from the Bar-Kokhba revolt was discovered this month during excavations in a cave in the Judean Hills north of Jerusalem. The cache of 120 gold, silver and bronze coins was found in three batches in a deep cavern located in a nature reserve.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Yet another remarkable archaeological discovery has been made in Israel this month, as a section of a stepped street from the Second Temple period was unveiled during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Shiloach Pool Excavation at the City of David in Jerusalem.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
A new exhibition entitled, "The Nuremberg Mahzor: A Medieval Masterpiece Unveiled," opened yesterday at the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The Nuremberg Mahzor, one of the most complete illuminated Hebrew prayer books and the largest surviving medieval codices in the world, includes finely hand-written liturgical poems and prayers for the entire Jewish year and life cycle. The book is embellished with lavish illuminated panels of gold and silver leaf and precious pigments.
Monday, October 5, 2009
A 2,000-year-old synagogue from the Second Temple period was discovered this month during archaeological excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority in Migdal near the Sea of Galilee. The 390-square-foot synagogue contains mosaic floors and walls covered with frescos. Also, a square stone featuring sides adorned with reliefs and engraved with a seven-branched menorah was discovered in the hall atop a pedestal with a triangular base.
Friday, October 2, 2009
One of Israel's most seasoned tourism professionals has been appointed Director of the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) in the Western USA, says Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner, North America. "I am delighted to welcome Eliezer back to the U.S.," commented Sommer, "and I know he will do a super job in this vital region of the country, not only with the traditional sources of travelers, but particularly in the Hispanic and Christian markets."
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Israel will celebrate the weeklong festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) with a special array of music, film and cultural events, October 2-10.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Hundreds of birdwatchers from all over the world will flock to the Israeli resort town of Eilat to take part in the 4th Eilat Spring Migration Festival, March 18-25, 2010. Israel's location on the only land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa makes it uniquely suited as a prime bird-watching site from which to view the flights of a large variety of migratory birds. Travelers to the festival will witness the migration of more than 500 million birds, including rare raptors, pelicans and cranes.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Travelers to Israel this autumn will experience five days of classical music at the 36th Abu Ghosh Music Festival in the picturesque village of Abu Ghosh near Jerusalem, October 6-10. Taking place during the holiday of Succot, the festival will feature Maestro Frieder Bernius conducting the Stuttgart Chamber Choir, as well as 16 original music productions.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Following the success of last year's event, travelers to Israel this fall will experience Jerusalem's remarkable holy sites in a whole new light with "Autumn Evenings in the Old City," featuring live musical performances and guided nighttime tours around the Old City's Jewish and Christian Quarters every Monday and Thursday throughout September and October.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
More than a quarter million tourists visited Israel in August 2009, a similar number to August 2008, according to Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner, North and South America.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tel Aviv-Jaffa will continue its centennial celebrations this month with the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Art Biennial ARTLV-09, featuring the works of more than 300 artists at 20 different venues around the city, through September 24.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
An 1,800-year-old Roman building was exposed this month during excavations at the walls around Jerusalem National Park in the City of David. The 3,280-square-foot building is believed to have been part of a mansion of a wealthy individual. The center of the two-story structure features a large open courtyard surrounded by columns and galleries in between the rows.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Equinox, the largest cruise ship to sail to Israel, will dock for the first time in the Israeli ports of Haifa and Ashdod on August 25. A solstice-class cruise ship with a 2,850-passenger capacity, the Celebrity Equinox features the Lawn Club (a half-acre of real grass), AquaClass spa cabins, the Sky Observation Lounge, a glass blowing studio and a wine bar.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Celebrating its 74th season, The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will honor the 40th anniversary of Maestro Zubin Mehta as musical director with a wide range of special concerts and musical events featuring leading conductors, soloists and musicians from around the world.
Friday, August 21, 2009
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the death of German composer George Frideric Handel, the German choir and orchestra "Laudamus Te" will present three performances of The Saul Oratorio in Israel, September 10-12.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The 5th annual Jerusalem Beer Festival will showcase more than 100 breweries from around the world at Independence Park in Jerusalem, August 26-27. The festival will feature mainstream, local and boutique breweries including Erdinger (Germany), Beamish (Ireland), Lindemans (Belgium), Belhaven (Scotland) and John Smith (England).
Monday, August 17, 2009
Travelers to Israel this fall can experience theatrical tours, food festivals and live entertainment during Autumn Nights in the Old City. Autumn Nights in the Old City will take place every Monday and Thursday evening in September and October and offer travelers the opportunity to enjoy the alleyways and ancient tourist sites of the Old City of Jerusalem in a special nighttime setting.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Celebrating its 25th year, the Voice of Music Festival will feature 25 musical performances in the pastoral surroundings of Kibbutz Kfar Blum in the Upper Galilee from August 2-8.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The 30th International Arts and Crafts Fair will showcase works from more than 150 Israeli and international artists at Sultan's Pool in the Old City of Jerusalem from August 3-15.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have been voted 1st and 3rd "Best City in the Middle East," according to the 2009 World's Best Awards published by Travel + Leisure, one of the world's most influential travel magazines.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Taking place during Tu B'Av, "the Jewish Night of Love," the Bible & Love Festival will feature an exciting selection of performances by leading Israeli artists from August 4-8 at the Beit Guvrin National Park in the Judean Hills south of Jerusalem.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thrill-seekers traveling to Israel this year will now be able to experience what has become one of the world's most popular culinary attractions: The Dinner in the Sky.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov and Ministry Director-General Noaz Bar Nir will leave Thursday, July 16 for a working visit to North America, accompanied by representatives from the ministry. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen Jewish tourism, as well as promoting Christian-Evangelical tourism from the USA to Israel, while positioning Israel as a preferred tourism destination.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Every Thursday evening this summer from 6-11PM, Jerusalem's hottest new street, the Alrov Mamilla pedestrian mall, will come alive with free street entertainment and music, beginning July 2 and continuing through the end of August.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The 18th Maccabiah Games, the third largest sporting event in the world, will once again bring world-class athletes from more than 60 countries to Israel from July 13-23.
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Israel Museum in Jerusalem will host several events, concerts and activities this summer.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Museum of the Good Samaritan, one of the world's largest mosaic museums, opened to the public this month in the Judean Desert near Jerusalem. Located on the main highway between Jerusalem and Jericho, the Museum rests near the site of the inn mentioned in the New Testament's parable of the good Samaritan. It is identified with the biblical town of Ma'ale Adumim and displays mosaics and artifacts discovered throughout Israel.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Taking place from October 22-25, the Isrotel Phaza Morgana Festival will feature dance and musical performances by top Israeli artists at Timna Park in the Negev Desert north of Eilat.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Just weeks after his May 2009 appointment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel's Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov, has ordered a major refocusing of the Ministry's overseas promotional efforts to place greater emphasis on Israel as the land holy to the three monotheistic religions.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
International music icon Madonna has chosen Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park as the venue for the final concert of her record-breaking 'Sticky & Sweet' tour on September 1st, and due to unprecedented demand for tickets, the pop superstar will play a second show on September 2nd. The highly anticipated performances will mark the pop superstar's second concert series in Israel.
Monday, June 15, 2009
In celebration of Tel Aviv's centennial year, the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park will be transformed into Israel's world-famous Mediterranean beach for an all-day party on Sunday, June 21.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Travelers to Israel this summer can experience three days of classical and contemporary jazz music at the 5th Annual Jazz Festival at Caesarea Harbor (June 18-20).
Friday, June 12, 2009
Montreal's Les Grands Ballets Canadiens dance company makes its debut in Israel tonight as part of Tel Aviv's centennial celebrations. The troupe will present Noces, by Belgian choreographer Stijn Celis, until June 2 on the Outdoor Stage at the Suzanne Dellal Theater in Tel Aviv, and on June 5th at the Jerusalem Center for the Performing Arts.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tel Aviv's Annual White Night Festival turned the city back in time last night with music, exhibitions and costumes from the era of the modern city's foundation on the Mediterranean in 1909.
Friday, May 29, 2009
On Sunday June 21, Manhattan's Central Park Mall and the Naumberg Bandshell will be transformed into the Mediterranean beaches of the city of Tel Aviv, says Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner, North & South America. The New York event marks the Big Apple's celebration of the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv, the garden city founded in 1909 on sand dunes north of biblical Jaffa.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Travelers to Israel this summer can experience more than 80 musical, dance and theatrical performances by hundreds of international artists at the Israel Festival (May 24 - June 11).
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI completed his first Papal tour of Israel last Friday with an official farewell ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.
Friday, May 22, 2009
The new "Peace Be within thy Palaces - Jerusalem Antiquities at the Israel Knesset" archaeological garden opened last month on the grounds of Israel's parliament in Jerusalem.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
More than 40,000 Christian travelers from around the world gathered last week to witness Pope Benedict XVI deliver his official pilgrimage Mass at the amphitheatre on Mount Precipice in Nazareth.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The 4,000-year-old Abraham's Gate reopened to the public last month at the Tel Dan Nature Reserve in northern Israel after extensive restoration work by the Nature and National Parks Protection Authority.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Beginning June 10th and lasting through the 16th, Jerusalem's Light Festival will transform buildings and holy sites around the Old City into a vibrant display of light-inspired artworks.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has announced a new website dedicated to Pope Benedict XVI's first Papal visit to the Holy Land due to be launched on April 15th this year.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
An 1,800-year-old marble figurine depicting the head of a bearded man was recently uncovered during archaeological excavations in Jerusalem's City of David. The statue is believed to be from the Greek Empire around the time of the Emperor Hadrian between the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
In preparation for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Israel this May, the picturesque 40-mile 'Pilgrim's Route' has been revamped, complete with brand-new trails and signs to help guide travelers along the path Jesus walked more than 2,000 years ago.
Friday, April 3, 2009
With masses of travelers expected to arrive in Israel for the upcoming Passover and Easter holidays, municipal authorities at the Western Wall have begun cleaning the holy site by removing the thousands of notes containing wishes and prayers placed in its cracks by visitors, including President Obama, over the past year.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI will make his first papal visit to Israel from May 8-15 this year. The Pope's visit will include stops at several Christian and Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem, including the Yad Vashem Museum and Memorial of the Holocaust, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, Mount Zion and the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane. President Shimon Peres will be the Pope's host and escort.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Founded in 1909 as a suburb of Jaffa, the modern city of Tel Aviv will celebrate its centennial this year with a year-long schedule of festivals, concerts, exhibitions and performances.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The only land bridge connecting Europe, Asia and Africa, Israel stands as one of the world's prime outposts for observing the spring migration of birds. Coinciding with the peak weeks of Israel's spring bird migration is the second annual Artists for Nature Festival, taking place until March 16, and the third annual International Spring Migration Festival (March 20-23).
Thursday, March 12, 2009
During her official visit to Israel this week, former First Lady and U.S. Senator, U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, spent two nights at the King David Jerusalem. She is among a long list of monarchs, heads of state and superstars who have been guests of Israel's most famous hotel.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
More visitors came to Israel in 2008 than in any year since the independent State of Israel was founded in 1948. "This is the first time ever more than 3 million tourists came to Israel in a single year," says Arie Sommer, Israel's Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, "and this underscores Israel's attractiveness to travelers of all nationalities, faiths, ethnic backgrounds and interests."
Friday, January 2, 2009
In 2008, more Russian tourists arrived in Israel than ever before, and in response to the dramatic increase, the Moscow Municipality-owned company Sun Dream has announced plans to open a $100-million luxury resort at Ein Bokek, on the southern shores of the Dead Sea, in mid- 2009.
Friday, December 5, 2008
A remarkable discovery has been made this month in Israel, as archaeologists have uncovered a three millennia-old water tunnel during excavations at the City of David in Jerusalem. The water tunnel is believed to be the "tsinnor" mentioned in the Old Testament's account of King David's conquest of Jerusalem, approximately 3,000 years ago.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Throughout the ages, the annual olive harvest has been a highly anticipated and festive event, and a phenomenon throughout the Mediterranean region. In keeping with tradition, Israel celebrated the annual olive harvest with the 14th Olive Branch Festival last month. One of the biblical "seven species," the olive branch is a symbol of peace that is woven into the emblem of the State of Israel and is deep-rooted in the country's culinary traditions.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Israel has embarked on one of the world's most dramatic "eco-friendly" initiatives, transforming the 2,000-acre Hiriya garbage dump on the outskirts of Tel Aviv into a magnificent park and 24-hour recreational hotspot. Since Hiriya's establishment decades ago, the ecological blight existed as an eyesore on the edge of Tel Aviv, complete with waste-eating pigeons and horrid stenches.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Jerusalem Nighttime TourVisitors to Jerusalem can now experience the holy city's remarkable sites in a whole new light with "Autumn Evenings in the Old City."
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
In collaboration with Israel's State Archives and in celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary, a new exhibition entitled Blue and White Pages: Documenting the History of Israel opens this week at the Israel Museum, displaying approximately 100 original documents from the history of the people and State of Israel, the majority in first-time public display.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
In their annual end-of-summer display in the skies over Israel, more than 500,000 white storks recently completed their migration south. Israel's location on the only land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa make it uniquely suited as a birdwatching site from which to witness the flights of a large variety of migratory birds.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Israel has inaugurated the new 'Pilgrim's Route,' a trail enabling travelers to hike to its Christian holy places. Along the route leading from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, tourists can visit the site that recalls the New Testament parable of the Good Samaritan, the Qumran caves and the point in the Jordan River believed to be where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Visitors to Jerusalem can now experience the holy city's remarkable sites in a whole new light with "Autumn Evenings in the Old City." The guided nighttime tours, combining live musical performances, stories and meetings with Jerusalem's fascinating inhabitants, take participants through the Muristan neighborhood, David's Citadel, Tekuma Park and the ancient "Jewish" and "Christian" Quarters on Mondays and Thursdays through October 30th.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Israel Ministry of Tourism is resuming nationwide advertising on September 15 after a hiatus of six months, says Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America. The $6.5 million campaign will include television advertising in the New York, Los Angeles and Miami metropolitan areas, print advertising in national travel magazines and newspaper advertising in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami.
Monday, September 15, 2008
The countdown has begun to the largest and arguably most important rock concert in Israel's 60 years - former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney will rock Tel Aviv in a three-hour, open-air concert in Hayarkon Park on September 25, 2008. The concert, which was finally announced last week after months of speculation and negotiations, promises to be the most complex production ever seen in Israel, at an estimated cost of approximately US $8.3 million and with a capacity crowd of 70,000.
Friday, September 5, 2008
A 2,600-year-old clay seal impression, or bulla, bearing the name "Gedaliah ben Pashur" has recently been discovered completely intact during archaeological excavations in Jerusalem's City of David-- below the walls of the Old City near the Dung Gate.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has launched "Tourphone," a new 24/7 hotline providing tourists with information, directions and a first response via telephone, according to Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America. The Tourphone enables tourists in Israel to access information by dialing *3888 from any cell phone or land line, offering information on local attractions, airports and assistance in emergencies and information regarding visas.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Offering a modern twist on the ancient archaeological site of Beit She'an, located in the Jordan Valley, "She'an Nights," a multi-media, multi-sensory nighttime tour of the 5,000-year-old city, opened last week. The cutting-edge touring experience gives visitors the chance to view the Roman-Byzantine-era marble columns, temples and mosaics within the national park in an entirely new light, so to speak.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Known as the Riviera-on-the-Red Sea, Israel's coastal city of Eilat will host the 22nd annual Red Sea International Jazz Festival from August 25th through the 28th.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Last week, the New York Times travel section called it "The capital of Mediterranean cool." This month's Travel+Leisure magazine put it this way: "An influx of wealth, progressive culture, and world-class cuisine is reshaping this resilient Mediterranean metropolis." Israel Ministry of Tourism And a new guide book available at U.S. bookstores that is also readable on-line says: "It is a city that goes with the flow, Each morning, it decides anew what is interesting, what is annoying and where it is going.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Tiberias has been central to the wine industry in Israel since biblical times, indeed, 2000 years ago, wine production in the Galilee region was the mainstay of Israel's economy. Fast-forward to the 21st century: Israel has concentrated on utilizing the rich soil of the Galilee, the Golan, the Plain of Sharon and the Judean Hills, developing world-class wineries that have attracted praise from wine experts around the world.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
43% more tourists visited Israel in the first four months of 2008 than in the same period of 2007.
Friday, May 23, 2008
It's not often the President of the United States gets to play tourist. But in Israel this month to celebrate the state's 60th anniversary, U.S. President George W. Bush and the First Lady toured Masada, accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Mrs Aliza Olmert.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
If you want to know why Jerusalem so desperately requires a mass transit makeover, say the builders of the city's new light rail transit (LRT) system, all you need to do is "stand at the corner of Jaffa Road and King George Street at 5PM on a weekday."
Thursday, May 8, 2008
This summer, Israel will be host to concerts by a series of world-renowned entertainers, many making their first visits to Israel on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
On Wednesday, May 7, the eve of the 60th anniversary of its rebirth in 1948, Israelis will celebrate with a countrywide series of firework, laser and light shows.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Israel's Ministry of Tourism is celebrating the country's 60th anniversary of independence with a competition to recognize the best travel article published on Israel in North America during the 60th anniversary year - May 1 through December 31, 2008. The grand prize is a repeat visit to Israel at the ministry's expense, as well as an elegant silver plaque featuring a medieval map of Israel. The five runners-up will receive books.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport has been judged "best airport in the Middle East" and the "world's second best airport" that handles 5-15 million passengers a year, says Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America. The survey was conducted by the Geneva-based Airports Council International (ACI) whose Airport Service Quality Survey is based on the results from nearly 200,000 questionnaires completed by passengers in 2007.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Popular American TV actor Wentworth Miller, star of the hit show, Prison Break, visited Israel last week, as a guest of YES satellite network, which broadcasts the show in Israel.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Tourism to Israel in the first two months of 2008 rose a whopping 51% over the first two months of 2007, according to Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America. The first two months of 2008 were 34% up over the same months of 2006.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Forty-five minutes southwest of Jerusalem, visitors to Israel can experience one of the country's most tightly held secrets: the Valley of Elah. The recent Oscar-nominated movie, "In the Valley of Elah," starring Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron, may have done more for its name recognition than David's epic battle against Goliath which raged here, but this region, flanked by the gently rolling hills of Judea, still remains one of the Holy Land's less frequented gems.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
More Canadians visited Israel in 2007 than in any year since the modern State of Israel was founded in 1948, says Oded Grofman, Consul for Tourism and Director of the Israel Government Tourist Office in Toronto.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
More Americans visited Israel in 2007 than in any year since the modern State of Israel was founded in 1948, says Arie Sommer, Israel's Tourism Commissioner for North and South America.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
On the last day of his first-ever visit to Israel as president, George W. Bush visited the Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, revered as the site of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.
Friday, January 18, 2008
In the first month of a year that will mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, the Israel Ministry of Tourism, North America, today announced the opening of its new Chicago office on January 22.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Israel now has the largest flag in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Equal to the size of two football stadiums when laid out, the new flag was presented to Israel, along with another large flag of the Philippines, by Sister Grace Galindez-Gupana as a commemoration of 50 years of diplomacy between the two countries.
Friday, December 21, 2007
With so much to see in a country of such compact size, Israel may just be the perfect place to hit the road (or off-road) by bike. And now, EL AL is partnering with the Israel Bike Experience to offer active and eco-conscious travelers to Israel weeklong bicycle packages for riders of all abilities.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Starting this week, the Israel Ministry of Tourism is inviting American children to help promote Israel's 60th Anniversary in 2008. The object is for kids to design an image for a postcard that the Israel Ministry of Tourism can use to invite people to visit the country during its 60th birthday year. The winning entry will be made into a postcard that will be distributed throughout the United States.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
International composer, guitarist and singer David Broza, joined by legendary rocker Jackson Browne and Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, performs his greatest hits in a sunrise concert staged at the ancient fortress of Masada in southern Israel. Broza begins the special from the Northern Palace with spectacular aerial footage that unveils the poetic beauty of Israel's landscape and concludes with the sun rising over the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea.
Monday, November 26, 2007
With the opening of this pair of residential towers designed by Philippe Starck later this year (in addition to marquis projects from Richard Meier, IM Pei and Frank Gehry), Tel Aviv officially arrives on the starchitect map.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Of the ten "best hotels in the Middle East," five are in Israel, according to the readers of the prestigious U.S. travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler. "The magazine conducts an annual survey of its readers," says Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, "and it is very gratifying that fully half of those considered 'best' are in Israel."
Monday, October 15, 2007
40% more Americans visited Israel in July 2007, and 60% more in August 2007, over the same months of 2006, says Arie Sommer, Israel's Tourism Commissioner for North and South America.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
With a view to the riches that Israel itineraries offer, more and more international cruise ships have begun docking in the ports of Haifa and Ashdod.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Despite its diminutive size, Israel appears to tower over its Mediterranean neighbors when it comes to protected open spaces, according to a recently published report.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Everything you ever wanted to know about holding a child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem - and didn't know what or whom to ask, is now covered in a newly created website called BAR/BAT MITZVAH IN JERUSALEM.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Ancient Jaffa, the port from which Jonah pushed off and encountered the whale is one of the oldest port cities in the world. It served the Phoenicians, Romans, Richard the Lion-Heart, Napoleon, the Turks, and then served as export central for the famous Jaffa oranges during the British Mandate in Israel. Today, it is part of the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel's business, finance, and entertainment center.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
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