NEW YORK -- Help for organizing groups in general and Catholic
pilgrimages in particular is being offered by the Israel Government
Tourist Office here. The IGTO's Northeast Region is offering a new
guide to selling group travel.
The Israel Group Sales Handbook focuses on what the traveler
from North America is seeking as well as tourism facilities. It
provides sample itineraries and step-by-step suggestions on how to
tap the group market. The handbook is available free from the
regional office.
To assist Catholic groups interested in pilgrimages to the Holy
Land during the turn of the millennium, specific projects are being
offered. According to Yehuda Shen, director of the Northeast Region
of the IGTO and deputy tourism commissioner for North America, the
decision of Pope John Paul II to journey to Israel in March spurred
the ministry's efforts "to provide every possible assistance to
Catholics eager to visit the Holy Land."
One effort involves planning retreats to the Holy Land to
graduating seminarians of divinity schools. The IGTO offers sample
itineraries for retreats that will provide time for reflection and
prayer and will interweave the study of Scripture with a hands-on
experience of the location.
It also offers help to archdioceses, parish priests and Roman
Catholic tour organizers who are planning travel for groups such as
choirs that will perform in the Holy Land.
IGTO Northeast Region
Phone: (212) 499-5650
Web: www.goisrael.com