IN ADVANCE OF CHRISTMAS 2013, THE TOURISM MINISTRY IS WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH THE CHURCH AND OTHER BODIES TO FACILITATE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAITHFUL EXPECTED FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Tourism Ministry invests NIS 86 million in infrastructure development and maintenance of Christian holy sites in last two years * Tourism Minister to host pre-Christmas receptions for Church leaders in Jerusalem and Nazareth * Tourism Ministry to provide free shuttle transport to Bethlehem from Jerusalem and back for 24 hours of Christmas
Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau: “The Tourism Ministry under my leadership will continue to invest significantly in the preservation and renovation of Christian holy sites. Since its establishment, the State of Israel has attached great importance to values of freedom of religion and worship and works tirelessly to facilitate religious practice for people of all religions in freedom and mutual respect. We will do all we can to ensure that every Christian can visit the holy sites. We invite the faithful to visit the Holy Land and experience a powerful religious and spiritual pilgrimage in Jerusalem, the Galilee and beyond.”
The Tourism Ministry is working in cooperation with the Church and other bodies to facilitate the celebration of the Christmas festivities for the 75,000 visitors expected to arrive in Israel for the Christmas period. According to Tourism Ministry estimates, 25,000 of these visitors will be pilgrims.
During the holiday, the Ministry of Tourism will offer free transportation, helping pilgrims travelling between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Buses will leave according to demand from Mar Elias Monastery to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and back again and will operate non-stop from noon on 24 December through to noon on 25 December. Representatives from the Ministry of Tourism will welcome tourists and pilgrims at Rachel’s Crossing with a gift bag containing a set of coasters depicting scenes of Israel and chocolate in the spirit of the holiday.
According to Tourism Ministry statistics from Rachel's Crossing, 1.85 million tourists have passed through the crossing to visit Bethlehem in the months Jan-Oct 2013. It is anticipated that about 2 million people will have visited Bethlehem in 2013 (almost double the 2012 figure of 1.18 million).
Since 2011, the Tourism Ministry has invested NIS 86 million in developing and maintaining the infrastructure of Christian sites, in order to enrich the pilgrim's spiritual experience. These sites include, among others, the baptism site at Qasr el Yahud near the Dead Sea, Mount Zion and Ein Karem in Jerusalem and the Gospel Trail in the Galilee. Other projects include, among others, the boardwalk from Tiberias to Capernaum, Korazim and Mount Precipice. Future infrastructure projects at Christian sites include, among others, Tel Megiddo, the Old City of Jerusalem, Sussita and other sites in the Tiberias and Galilee region.
As part of the ongoing activities to promote pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau and the representatives of the Tourism Ministry in Israel and around the world meet regularly with Church leaders and communities. The Tourism Minister met recently with bothHis Beatitude, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Tual and His Beatitude, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III in order to discuss matters important to the Church and future collaboration. Representative
Targeted marketing campaigns take place around the world to Christian communities, encouraging tourism to the Holy Land. The ministry runs dedicated websites and facebook pages for the Catholic and Evangelical communities.
www.holyland-pilgrimage.org (the Tourism Ministry’s dedicated site for Catholic pilgrims, available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Polish and Portuguese).
http://www.goisrael.com/Evng (the Tourism Ministry’s dedicated site for Evangelical Christians)
CHRISTIAN TOURISM - STATISTICS AND CHARACTERISTICS
During 2012, Israel’s record year for incoming tourism, 2.88 million tourists visited Israel (staying more than one night). About 56% of all incoming tourists in 2012 were Christian. About half were Catholic (808,000), and nearly 30% of all incoming tourists defined themselves as pilgrims.
90% of all Christian tourists visit Jerusalem. About two-thirds of all Christian tourists in 2012 visited the Dead Sea area (68%); Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee (62%) Bethlehem (60%) and just over half visiting Nazareth (56%) and Capernaum (55%).
The most visited sites by Christian tourists (who can include more than one site) includeChurch of the Holy Sepulchre: 84%; Via Dolorosa: 82%; Western Wall: 82%; Mount of Olives: 82%; Jewish Quarter: 79%; Church of the Annunciation: 61%; Capernaum: 55% and Yardenit baptism site: 46%.
Characteristics of Christian tourism: Average length of stay: 7.7 nights ; Average expenditure: $1483; Average expenditure per day: $187 per day; 83% visit within framework of an organized tour; 80% of all Christian tourists are first-time visitors; 20% of pilgrims are repeat visitors, with about 32% of them having visited within the last two years.
The major source countries for Christian tourism are Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Poland, Mexico (mainly Catholics); Russia and Romania (mainly Orthodox); Nigeria (Catholics and Protestants).
Source: Tourism Ministry Inbound Tourism Survey and CBS
TOURISM MINISTRY PRE-CHRISTMAS RECEPTIONS AND FESTIVITIES IN NAZARETH
11-15 December 2013, Nazareth
- Christmas festivities in Nazareth open11 December 2013 with the lighting of the Christmas tree and the traditional Christmas market, selling Christmas decorations and gifts, from 11-15 December.
22 December 2013, Nazareth
The Minister of Tourism Dr. Uzi Landau will host the traditional reception for Church leaders and representatives in Nazareth, on Sunday, 22.12.13 at 18:30 at the Golden Crown Hotel Nazareth. The reception, which will include the participation of the Director-General of the Tourism Ministry Amir Halevi and the new Mayor of Nazareth Ali Salam, will include an artistic program with singer Maria Jubran.
23 December 2013, Jerusalem
Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau will host the traditional pre-Christmas reception for leaders of the Christian communities and churches in Israel at the Shimshon Center, Beit Shmuel in Jerusalem on Monday, 23 December at 11:00. Also participating in the reception alongside the Christian leaders will be the Director-General of the Tourism Ministry Amir Halevi, and representatives of the Church, government and private bodies involved in promoting Christian tourism to the Holy Land. The minister will send season’s greetings for Christmas to the Christian communities and invite the faithful around the world to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
24 December 2013, Nazareth
On Christmas Eve, 24.12.13, the traditional parade of thousands of local youth, together with the leaders of the Christian communities, will pass through Nazareth from 15:00. The parade ends at the plaza in front of the Basilica with a firework display, sponsored by the Tourism Ministry, to announce the opening of the festive Christmas celebrations (17:30). Christmas Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica of the Annunciation at 19:00.
Photo provided by Israel Ministry of Tourism
