5th DEAD SEA INTERNATIONAL MARKETING WEEKEND

Tourism sector representatives and specialized media from Germany, France, England, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Japan, Israel and the GRUPO TERMAS for Spain, attended the the 5th Dead Sea International Marketing Weekend, sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, EL AL Israel Airlines, Dead Sea Hotels Association and the City Council of Tamar, took place in Ein Bokek's tourist-thermal area.

The organizing committee whose chairman was Udi Sichermam from Dead Sea Hotels Association and composed of Tzvi Lotan Ministry of Tourism, Shmuel Zurel from Dead Sea Hotels Association, Ofra Gazit and Yaakov Akrish from Regional Municipality of Tamar, Angel Weinstein and David Tavor from EL AL Israel Airlines, Sarit Kurtz from Accor Hotels and Michelle Bashan technical coordinating secretary from Kaleidoscope. A complete programme of acts and a Trade Exhibition was presented, allowind the opportunity to meet local suppliers of Tamar Region and group of international tourism professional leaders. An invitation to feel and to enjoy the natural elements of the Dead Sea – its dawns, the waters, the air and the earth (cosmetic MUDS) -.

OPENING

The Director of Marketing of the Dead Sea Hotels Association, Shmuel Zurel welcomed the participants in the opening ceremony of the 5ª Dead Sea International Marketing Association act that took place in the Novotel Thalassa.

During the opening session were present Udi Zichermam, Chairman of the Conference, Haim Romano, Chief Executive Officer EL AL Israel Airlines and Dov Litvinoff, Mayor of the Regional Municipality of Tamar who highlighted the increment of the European tourism in the area of the Dead Sea and he also announced the creation of a center of medical research in the historical place of Massada.

The 5th Dead Sea International Marketing Weekend whose official language was English with translators to Russian, German and French. Also several promotional videos were exhibited and a report regarding tourist development of Dead Sea area, was presented by Shumel Zurel.

The Marketing Director of Dead Sea Hotels Association, remembered us that the four elements: the sunshine, air, water and earth (mud) combine in Dead Sea to create a unique “Natural Health SPA“ and a micro-climate that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

“There are several important factors that make the air of the Dead Sea unique”, Zurel said. Located 400meters below sea level (1320 feet), has the highest registered atmospheric pressure (800mmHG) on earth, resulting in 6-8% higher oxygen saturation than the air at sea level. The air is rich in minerals due to the evaporation of the Dead Sea water, especially magnesium and bromine whose relaxing effects reduce nervous tension. Dead Sea has a dry and pleasant climate, which promotes relaxation and reduces psychological stress, contributing to the improvement of well being of those persons suffering from health problems.

In this sense -he indicated -the atmosphere of cordiality in the treatment of patients, rises the quality of life or , as one patients remarked: “in the Dead Sea I am a welcomed guest and not a patient” .

TOURISM OF HEALTH

Besides the therapeutic values, he highlighted the importance of Dead Sea for people who enjoy basking in the sunshine with minimum danger and who like the pampering experience of mineral Baths, body treatments and cosmetic mud wraps.

According Mr. Zurel, together public and private services, at the moment in Dead Sea area, are offering more than 4000 rooms in the 16 hotels of 4 and most of them of 5 stars. Half of them belonging to international hotel chains (Golden Tulip, Carlton, Square, Sheraton. Novotel,). These hotels disppose of pool with Dead Sea water and a Spa Center that provide every level of treatments for health and beauty and a therapeutic Solarium.” .

In that sense, the Marketing Director of Dead Sea Hotels Association, manifested that “the Health Tourism supposes 21per cent of the volume of hotel business in Dead Sea”. There are clinics specialized in the treatment of the skin, joints, and eye disease, respiratory and hypertension problems. Each clinic has a qualified team of physicians ans a staff of nurses. Some of these clinics operate under the auspices of an Israeli university hospital.

After the opening ceremony, the Trade Exhibition of Dead Sea was opened, facilitating the contacs between tours operators of international travel agencies and local tourist suppliers, the cosmetic industry, craft, hotels services, means of transport, etc.

MUD FESTIVAL

The assistants to the 5th Dead Sea International Marketing Weekend participated in a program of complementary activities such as a Festival of Dead Sea Mud and visits to places of historical interest: the Sdom Mountains, Ein Gedi Kibbutz and the National Park of Massada.

One of the healthiest pleasures for tourists is “to get covered in the black mud”. In this occasion it was a lively “party of the health” shared by all the participants and the members of the organizing committee.

The Dead Sea medicinal black mud is a element made of a homogeneous mixture of Dead Sea minerals, organic elements from the banks such as shells and earth. When it is used as a body wrap, the mud heat retaineing properties help to relax the muscular and nervous tensions, improves blood circulation and relieves rheumatic pain. The black medicinal mud is also amazingly effective to clean and to soften the skin.

A journey through Ein Gedi (the goat source) allowed to know the history of the kibbutz (communal settlement) been founded in 1949 by a group of pioneers in the Desert of Judea in the western bank of Dead Sea.

At the present it is a perfect place for retreat and vacations in contact with nature. Ein Gedi kibbutz has a spa of thermal mineral water. The thermal spring comes from old lakes whose waters had reach the depths being filtered through the rocks. On the way to surface they become mixed with Dead Sea water, enriching its chemical composition. The sulphur is the most important mineral which is found in high concentrations. Besides the thermal sources also Dead Sea cosmetic mud is available.

The kibbutz Ein Gedi is very well-known due to its magnificent botanical garden and for the tourist facilities that offers to the visitors such as Desert Safary Excursions through the desert. In this occasion it was a journey across the Valley of Sidim, where, according to the Genesis 14:2 ; where, among others cities, were settled the cities of Sodoma and Gomorra, in the southern part of the Dead Sea. In the Sdom Mount(Sodoma), there is the Salt Mountain of about 11 kms of longitude and 150 meters height. The Sodoma cave entrance< is under a rock pillar well-known as the “Woman of Lot”. The Factory that obtains from Dead Sea water potassium, chlorine, magnesium, bromine, etc.. and exports everywhere, is located 3 Kms. to the south of Sdom Mountain.

The visit to the National Park of Massada, cultural legacy of the Humanity recognized by UNESCO in 2001, was the end of the programmed acts owing to 5th Dead Sea International Marketing Weekend. Massada was the last stronghold of combatants for the Jewish freedom against the power of the Roman Empire of Bizancio. To be present at sunrise in Massada, it is an spectale that transmits the great force of a unique landscape in a place symbol of the freedom: Massada.

More information:
http://www.deadsea.co.il
http://www.tourism.gov.il/tourism_eng
http://www.israelhotels.org.il/
http://www.elal.co.il/ELAL/Hebrew/States/General

TERMAS WORLD AGENCY