The Israeli government today approved the recommendation of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov to promote the candidacy of the Dead Sea in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign.
“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,” Tourism Minister Misezhnikov said. A total of NIS 8.75 million ($2.5 million) will be allocated to marketing the campaign in Israel and overseas.
The selection of the Dead Sea as one of the New7Wonders of Nature would have major social and economic consequences. These include, an increase in the numbers of tourists visiting Israel in general and the Dead Sea in particular, more job opportunities for residents of the Negev and higher income from tourism and the economic development of the region.
“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.”
— Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov
According to estimates, the Dead Sea — which is sponsored jointly in the campaign by Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority — needs between 300 and 400 million votes to secure a place as one of the seven winners.
The Israeli Tourism Ministry is promoting voting for the Dead Sea via its 11 offices overseas, dedicated websites in eight languages (www.votedeadsea.com and www.goisrael.com) , at tourism fairs and in a multi-faceted international marketing campaign that includes key social media: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.