Jerusalem, Israel -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/06/2011 -- TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV: “THERE IS ENORMOUS SIGNIFICANCE IN BOTH ECONOMIC AND IMAGE TERMS SHOULD THE DEAD SEA WIN AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN WITH OVER ONE BILLION VOTERS; IN THE SIX MONTHS THAT REMAIN UNTIL THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WILL WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE THE DEAD SEA WIN”

As part of the activities to promote the Dead Sea’s candidacy in the campaign, which ends on 11.11.11, the Tourism Minister recommended the establishment of a steering committee headed by the Tourism Ministry D-G Noaz Bar-Nir and with the participation of representatives from the relevant government ministries, which will initiate and implement activities to promote the selection of the Dead Sea. NIS 8.75 million would be allocated to marketing the campaign in Israel and overseas (with half the budget coming from the Tourism Ministry.

The selection of the Dead Sea as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature is expected to have significant social and economic consequences; primarily an increase in the numbers of tourists visiting Israel in general and the Dead Sea in particular; increased job opportunities for residents of the Negev, higher income from tourism and the economic development of the area. It should be noted that this decision is consistent with the government’s decision to promote the periphery, with all that entails.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “There is enormous significance in both economic and image terms for the State of Israel should the Dead Sea win an international campaign with over one billion voters. The Israeli government should work together to promote the Dead Sea win in the six months that remain until the end of the campaign.”

According to estimates, the Dead Sea – which is sponsored jointly in the campaign by Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority – needs between 300-400 million votes in order to secure a place as one of the seven finalists. The New7Wonders Foundation, which initiated the campaign, expects about a billion people to vote by the close of the campaign on 11.11.11.

The Dead Sea - the lowest place on earth, the saltiest lake in the world and a unique geological area rich in history, religion and health attributes - was selected from 420 natural sites around the world and is considered to be a favorite. Competitors among the 28 finalists include the Amazon River, the Galapagos Islands, the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef and the Maldives.

The Tourism Ministry, the official Supporting Committee for the Dead Sea, is promoting the Dead Sea voting via its 11 offices overseas, dedicated websites in 8 languages (http://www.votedeadsea.com and http://www.goisrael.com) , at tourism fairs and in a multi-faceted international marketing campaign that includes social media: (http://www.facebook.com/VoteDeadSea http://www.twitter.com/votedeadsea http://www.youtube.com/user/VoteDeadSea )

In addition, the ministry is promoting cooperation with opinion-formers in Israel and
overseas, as well as with Jewish and Christian communities around the world.

The Dead Sea is one of the finalists in the Seven Natural Wonders of the World campaign.
Come see the Dead Sea like never before on the Dead Sea Website for the new7wonders campaign.
Join our Facebook group to support the dead sea in the new7wonders campaign.