NEW YORK -- Despite the difficulties in the region and an
acknowledged element of risk, Israel still is a powerful draw for
Miami-based Far & Wide.
"We continue to have clients who go to the Holy Land," said John
Peters, vice president of field marketing at Far & Wide. "There
will always be a desire for people to go there."
Although many tour operators have discontinued tours to Israel,
three of Far & Wide's companies are maintaining their offerings
to the region, including IST Cultural Tours and two firms that
specialize in religious pilgrimages, Regina Tours and Journeys
Unlimited.
"People ask me, 'Is it safe?' " said Ray Masillo, vice president
of Journeys Unlimited. "My answer is, 'My office is in New York. Is
it safe for me to go out after 10:30 at night?' "
For many U.S. travelers, a visit to the Holy Land is something
they want to do at least once in their lives, and they are not
deterred by the risk of going to sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth,
Galilee, Tiberias and Masada.
"Here in America, you have to open a book to read the
scriptures," said Masillo. "In the Holy Land, you just open your
window."
Journeys Unlimited, meanwhile, does not go to Jericho or the
Gaza Strip, where the risk is considered to be too high.
Earlier this year, Journeys Unlimited took a group of 187 on its
most popular program, the Holy Land Pilgrimage.
Masillo said the group featured participants from a variety of
ages and religious denominations, all wanting "to walk where Jesus
walked."
The trip came off without a hitch, Masillo said. "There wasn't
one place we couldn't go."
Highlights of the itinerary include the New Nazareth Garden, a
re-creation of the land at the time of Jesus; Qumran, where the
Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered; and the Mount of Beatitudes,
where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
"In Nazareth, we went to Mary's well," said Masillo. "When Mary
needed water, she went to the well. ... she took Jesus to the well.
When people realize that, it's very moving. You can't put that into
words. You have to be there to experience it."
Many of the stories in the scriptures have their corresponding
locations that participants can visit, Masillo said, including
Caesarea Philippi, where the gospels say Jesus said to Peter, "Upon
this rock I will build my church"; the Garden Tomb, where
Protestants believe Jesus was buried, and the Garden of Gethsemane,
both in Jerusalem; and Manger Square in Bethlehem.
The Holy Land Pilgrimage is a six-night package that includes
roundtrip air to Tel Aviv, six nights' hotel accommodations,
sightseeing with an English-speaking guide and biblical lectures by
scriptural experts.
The program is priced at $1,298 per person, double, plus $89 for
taxes and $50 for tips. It is sold to groups on a net basis.
For information, call (800) 486 8359 or visit www.journeys-unlimited.com.