At a joint press conference on November 24, 2004 in Jerusalem, Israeli Minister of Tourism Gideon Ezra and Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Mitri Abu Aita signed an historic joint statement pledging to cooperate to promote tourism to the area. This was the first such meeting between the two ministers in four years.

In the statement, both parties undertake to “take effective measures to assure the safe and smooth passage of pilgrims and tourists visiting Israeli and Palestinian areas…”

 “Believing that tourism is not only a major economic force, and an important tool for [a] nation’s prosperity, but also a means of bringing peace and building bridges of confidence between peoples of the Middle East, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities…announce that both ministries will cooperate in promoting tourism to the Holy Land.”

The arrival of the peak Christmas travel period spurred the signing and is yet another positive sign that tourism in the area is well on its way to recovery.

Ezra and Abu Aita “call upon all tourist entities and Christian communities all over the world to start organizing tours to the Holy Land.”