The American Tourism Society - Mediterranean/Red Sea

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Ever Fascinating Israel
By Robert Haru Fisher

Click on the City Names above to learn more about each.

As the accepted birthplace of two of the world's major religions, Israel has been a destination for travelers from abroad for perhaps longer than any other country in the modern era. The wealth of cultural and historical sites to be found here is fabulous enough, but Israel is a leader in modern science and technology as well, so it isn’t just Biblical milk and honey, but educational and economic progress as well.

Despite its wealth of historic places, there were until recently only three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country - The Old City of Acre, Masada and Tel Aviv (the latter primarily for its Bauhaus architecture). This spring, however, several biblical towns and archeological sites, including four spots along the Incense Route in the Negev, and mounds at Megiddo, Hazor and Beersheba, were added.

Tourism from the US and Canada has increased for the past few years, 2006 being expected to see even more visitors, including heritage travel by Jewish tourists and Holy Land experiences by Christians. Meanwhile, a recent historic, first meeting between tourism representatives from Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Palestine augurs well for peaceful travel in the region...(more)

AT-A-GLANCE:

• Capital:
	• Jerusalem
• Population:
	• 6,352,000
• Largest City:
	• Jerusalem (approximate population of 700,000)
• Neighboring Countries:
	• Israel is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.
• Language:
	• Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages, English widely understood.
• Size:
	• 20,770 square km
• Currency:
	• New Israeli Shekel (NIS) (current exchange rate is 4.49703 NIS to 1 USD)
• Upcoming Events:
	• Israel Festival, Jerusalem - May 23 - June 15, 2006 Tel: 011-972-2-566-3198 E-mail: Israel-f@smile.net.il • Abu Ghosh Vocal Music Festival - June 1-3, 2006 • Jerusalem Film Festival - July 6-14, 2006 • Karmiel Dance Festival - July 18-20, 2006 • Keshet Eilon Violin Master course - July 21 - Aug 9, 2006 • International Festival of Puppet Theater in Jerusalem - Aug 6-11, 2006 • Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival - Sept 1-12, 2006 • International Women's Film Festival - Rehovot, Sept 13-16, 2006 • Acco Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre - Oct 7-10, 2006 • Haifa International Film Festival - Oct 18-25, 2005 Bird watchers among you will have a breathtaking experience during the Hula Valley Bird Festival: Hula Valley Bird Festival November 5 - 12, 2006 During the peak birding season in the Hula Valley, when the migration season is at its height and the wintering species have already arrived, come and enjoy a great variety of activities: lectures, guided tours and identification workshops which will be held in the best birding sites in Northern Israel...(read more) FROM HOLLYWOOD TO THE HOLY LAND Celebrities from all over the world and especially Hollywood stars are putting a glamorous face on Israel’s tourism. This year an unprecedented number of film actors and singers came to visit and enjoy our country’s hospitality...(read more)
• Fun Fact:
	Did you know that Israel is the world capital for migrating birds? That birdwatchers from all over the world come every year to observe them and to visit the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration?
• Tourist Office (U.S.A.):
	• Israel Government Tourism Ministry 800 Second Avenue 16th floor New York, NY 10017 USA Phone: +1-212-499-5644 Fax: +1-212-499-5645 Israel Ministry of Tourism Information Center 800 Second Avenue 16th floor New York, NY 10017 USA Phone: +1-212-499-5660 Fax:+1-212-499-5665 Toll Free: 1-888-77ISRAEL E-mail: info@goisrael.com Opening hours: Mon-Thu 9:00am - 7:00pm ET Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm ET Visiting hours: Mon-Thu 9:30am - 4:30pm ET Fri 9:30am - 2:30pm ET • Northeast Region 800 Second Ave. New York, NY 10017 Tel: 212-499-5650 Fax: 212-499-5655 Email: Igtonewyork@imot.org • Western Region 6380 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1718 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Tel: 323-658-7463 Fax: 323-658-6543 Email: igtola@imot.org • Canada 180 Bloor St. West, Suite 700 Toronto, ON M5S2V6 Tel: 416-964-3784 Fax: 416-964-2420 Email: info@igto.ca The Israel Ministry of Tourism website is: http://www.tourism.gov.il/ The Government Tourism Office to North America is: http://www.goisrael.com/

ATS MEMBERS: Click on any company below to see trip itineraries, hotel properties and air fares.

•	Tour Operators:
	•	Eshet Incoming
	•	Gordon Tours
	•	General Tours
	•	Group IST
	•	Ya'lla Tours

•	Hotels:
	•	Dan Hotels Israel
	•	Marriott International, Inc.

•	Airines:
	•	El Al

•	Rental Cars:
	•	Auto Europe