Jerusalem, 29 February 2012

FOR THE FIRST TIME THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM WILL PARTICIPATE IN SBC THE
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONFERENCE: THE SECOND LARGEST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THE
US.

Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov: "Christians acount for up to 50% of
American tourism to Israel. Participation in the conference can produce
cooperation and increase significantly the amount of incoming tourism to
Israel"

For the first time, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism will attend
the annual SBC which will take place in June in New Orleans. Southern
Baptists are the second largest Christian community in the United States
after the Catholic Church. In the United States there are 16 million
Southern Baptists, affiliated with about 45,000 churches.

The invitation for the conference was received by the Minister of Tourism,
Stas Misezhnikov, at the National Religious Broadcasters conference (NRB) in
Nashville last week where a meeting was held with Dr. Frank Page, president
of the Southern Baptists.

Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov: "Each year, about 11,000 delegates
participate in the SBC. Christians account for up to 50% of American tourism
to Israel. We believe that the new collaboration with SBC, will help promote
incoming tourism and will increase the number of tourists visiting Israel,
holy to three religions".

The years 2010 and 2011 were the best years for tourism in Israel and it
would appear that, according to early signs, 2012 will even surpass these
records.

Lydia Weitzman
Foreign Press Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism
0523 584395
israeltourismministry@gmail.com