AUGUST 2013 Vol. 6 - Issue 8   
GREETINGS FROM THE COMMISSIONER 
With a new selection of one-of-a-kind events taking place this month, there is no better time than now for travelers to explore the diverse range of sites in Israel.

We hope to see you this year to experience why Israel truly is 'beyond belief.' 

  


Haim Gutin, Israel Tourism Commissioner, 
North and South America 

JERUSALEM'S YAD VASHEM HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL NAMED FOURTH BEST MUSEUM IN THE WORLD BY TRIPADVISOR

The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem was recently named the fourth best museum in the world by leading travel website TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor also named Yad Vashem as the top attraction in Jerusalem, and describes the museum's moving exhibits as "an emotional, educational and inspiring experience."

NEW GOURMET CULINARY TOURS OF ISRAEL

Bespoke tour operator BlackTomato recently launched a new gourmet culinary tour of Israel, offering guided visits to leading foodie destinations throughout the country. The new tours will bring travelers to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda Market and culinary haunts in Tel Aviv and offer authentic dining experiences in the Galilee region and Bedouin villages in the Negev Desert.  

TEL AVIV LAUNCHES NEW SELF-GUIDED SMARTPHONE TOURS OF JAFFA 

The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality recently launched new self-guided tours of Jaffa tourist attractions that can be downloaded for free via smartphone. Travelers can choose from five different routes by visiting new "tourist poles" bearing QR codes in 70 different locations throughout Jaffa; when a QR code is scanned, the app offers an audio explanation and video segments including historic details and images of each location. The service is currently offered in English and Hebrew, and will be launched in Arabic and Russian in the near future. 

LOW-COST AIRLINES TO LAUNCH NEW FLIGHTS FROM EUROPE TO ISRAEL

ben gurion

Hungarian airline Wizz Air will offer new direct weekly service from Vilnius, Lithuania; Katowice, Poland; and Cluj-Napoca, Romania to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, beginning this fall. In addition, the low-cost airline easyJet will launch new weekly service from Rome to Tel Aviv, beginning in September 2013. 

ISRAEL'S FOURTH MASADA OPERA FESTIVAL: LA TRAVIATA - JUNE 2014 

Israel will host the fourth Masada Opera Festival, featuring four mega-performances of Verdi's La Traviata produced by the Israeli Opera at the foot of Masada, June 12-17, 2014. The festival takes place at the shore of the Dead Sea in a specially crafted "Opera Village," which includes a massive stage, tiered seating for 7,500, open-air entertainment lounges and food stalls. This production of La Traviata will be conducted by Israeli maestro Daniel Oren alongside the Israeli Opera Orchestra and Chorus, and will feature international opera stars Aurelia Florian, Celso Albelo and Ionut Pascu. The Masada Opera Festival will also showcase two special concerts: one featuring the Idan Raichel Project, June 13; and an all-Beethoven program by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra on June 15, conducted by Kent Nagano.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SUPERSTARS TO PERFORM IN ISRAEL THIS YEAR

A selection of international music superstars will perform in Israel this year, including world-renowned DJ David Guetta in a majestic setting at the foot of Masada, October 17. In addition, pop singer Rihanna will return to Israel for a performance at Tel Aviv's Nokia Stadium, October 22; and legendary British singer Tom Jones will perform in Israel for the first time since 1997, also at Nokia Arena, October 26. 

FIRST STATION COMPLEX IN JERUSALEM ANNOUNCES NEW EVENTS THROUGH SUMMER 2013

The First Station complex, Jerusalem's Ottoman-era train station-turned-entertainment hotspot, will host a selection of art, culture and culinary events this month. The events will include a daily culinary bazaar with food kiosks boasting boutique products and local produce; an outdoor theater festival featuring the Mystoria Theater Group (August 15-18); and performances by the Jerusalem Street Orchestra (August 14 and 28). www.firststation.co.il/en

ISRAEL RECORDS INCREASE IN TOURISM IN JUNE 2013

Approximately 295,000 visitors arrived in Israel in June 2013, a 3% increase compared to the same period last year. Also, 241,000 tourists (visitors staying more than one night) arrived in June 2013, 6% more than in 2011; and 16,000 travelers arrived via cruise ship last month, a 52% increase compared to the same period last year.

BARCELONA FC SOCCER CLUB ARRIVES IN ISRAEL

The world-renowned Barcelona FC club arrived in Israel last weekend in advance of a series of "football" workshops for local youth and meetings with Israeli dignitaries. The Barcelona FC team, including players Lionel Messi, Neymar da Silva Juntos and Xavier Hernandez, is pictured, at right, alongside Israel Tourism Minister Uzi Landau (center), at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. 

JERUSALEM BIRD OBSERVATORY ANNOUNCES NEW EVENTS IN AUGUST 2013

The Jerusalem Bird Observatory will host a series of new events and bird-watching workshops this month for families and travelers of all ages. The events will include a Butterfly Bonanza (August 13); Gazelles of Jerusalem (August 15 and 23); Night Hike at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory (August 4, 11, 14 and18); and Wild Bug Safari (August 12 and 19). www.jbo.org.il

TEL AVIV'S ERETZ ISRAEL MUSEUM TO HOST SEVENTH ANNUAL BIENNALE FOR ISRAELI CERAMICS THROUGH NOVEMBER 2013

Tel Aviv's Eretz Israel Museum will host the seventh annual Biennale for Israeli Ceramics, showcasing works by more than 66 Israeli artists, through November 10, 2013. Organized around the theme of "cultural memory," the Israeli Ceramics Biennale will feature more than 200 ceramic works by Israeli designers, potters and multidisciplinary artists, including Maya Ben David, Adi Gross and Michal Alon.  www.eretzmuseum.org.il

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Ross Belfer

WEILL 

866-PR-WEILL

 

Gail Barzilay

Israel Ministry of

Tourism

Northeast Region

212-499-5647

 

Dana Shemesh

Israel Government 

Tourist Office

Southeastern USA

404-541-2770

 

Jill Daly

Israel Government Tourist Office Midwestern USA

312-803-7077

 

Dan Manor

Israel Government Tourist Office 

Western USA

323-658-7463 

 

 

                                       

ISRAEL GOVERNMENT
TOURIST OFFICES IN
NORTH AMERICA

NORTHEAST USA
New York
Shahar Alon, Director

212-499-5650

SOUTHERN USA
Atlanta 
Joe Diaz, Director
404-541-2770

MIDWESTERN USA
Chicago
Omer Eshel, Director
312-803-7080

WESTERN USA
Los Angeles
Eliezer Hod, Director
323-658-7463

CANADA
Toronto  
Ami Allon, Director
416-964-3784


 Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter
Geoffrey Weill Associates
Informational material is disseminated on behalf of the Israel Ministry of Tourism.
Additional information available at the Department of Justice.