The upcoming Jewish holiday of Succot is almost upon us (Wednesday evening it hits, and then continues for the following week), and despite the loud banging of hammers upon nails, as Jews throughout Israel build their succa (the temporary home for the week), Israel is still going to be bursting with tourists over the coming week! In fact, some 7000 Christian friends of Israel will be here, partly sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, to celebrate the Christian Feast of the Tabernacles.
Thousands of pilgrims will visit Jerusalem this coming week for a whole series of seminars and teaching. Participants come from tens of countries including Brazil, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Austria, India, Italy, Nigeria, Finland and Norway. They’ll also be taking part in the traditional Jerusalem March on 28 September.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov had this to say:
Christian tourism to Israel, in all its streams, represents the main target audience on which the Tourism Ministry focuses its marketing efforts in order to increase incoming tourism. In the framework of the new branding of Israel as the Holy Land with Jerusalem at its center, the ministry operates in all spheres in order to turn these pilgrims into ambassadors for tourism to Israel in their home countries.
The pilgrims that will stay for over a week in Israel will be making a big impact on the economy too, with tens of thousands of overnight stays in hotels around the country. Guesstimates of between $15-20 million, which ain’t half bad for a few evangelicals. Bless ’em!