ISRAEL SEEKS TRAVEL PLEDGE
PLEDGE IS SOUGHT FROM MILLIONS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA
The Israel Ministry of Tourism is embarking on a unique campaign by asking for a new kind of pledge. It’s seeking a promise to visit Israel during the Jewish New Year, which runs from late September 2003 to September 2004.
During the upcoming High Holidays – which include Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement – Several million North American Jews will find tourism pledge cards on their synagogue seats. The requested contribution is just a commitment to visit Israel. The goal of this new Project Go Israel campaign is to have more than a million visitors from North America visit Israel during the Jewish year, 5764.
Over 350,000 Jews live in Canada, with Toronto accounting for half of Canada’s Jewish population and Montreal about a quarter.
“The best way we can access North American Jews is through the synagogue,” says Israel’s Tourism Minister Benny Elon. “This tourism pledge project represents an extremely significant commitment by Canadians who take part,” adds Dani Shahal, Israel’s consul for tourism in Canada. “Israel will, of course, benefit, but visitors to Israel will also benefit from the beauty they will experience and the inspiration they will receive.”
Project Go Israel is not limited to North American Jewry. Elon is inviting Christians as well to join the tourism drive.
Tourism to Israel has been increasing over the past several months, with Elon forecasting 1.2 million visitors by the end of 2003.
Contact: Samara Bordan, IGTO, 416.964.3784 ext. 22, info@igto.ca
August 31, 2003
Posted in: Israel