In anticipation of the final phase of the New7Wonders of Nature competition, the Israel Coins & Medals Corporation has issued the new Dead Sea coin. The Speaker of the Knesset and the Minister of Tourism attended the launch and called upon the residents of Israel to vote for the Dead Sea and contribute to its success in the competition.
On Monday, May 16th, 2011, the new Dead Sea coin was launched in an event attended by the Speaker of the Knesset, Mr. Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin, and the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Stas Misezhnikov. During the event, the Minister and the Speaker thanked the Prime Minister for his involvement in promoting the selection of the Dead Sea as a new World Wonder, having raised the issue at the last meeting of government ministers.
Raising the lowest place on Earth
The Dead Sea has reached the final phase in the global New7Wonders of Nature contest, alongside 27 other candidates, selected from hundreds of competing nature sites around the world.
A billion voters are expected to take part in the selection process, and Israel hopes to recruit about 300 million people to vote for the Dead Sea, whose shoreline is the lowest dry land on Earth. To do so, the Ministry of Tourism has recently initiated a global campaign to encourage the voting, budgeted at approximately NIS 8 million.
It is estimated that having the Dead Sea included as one of the world’s seven wonders of nature will increase the number of tourists by hundreds of thousands, and will create thousands of jobs.
At the ceremony, the Speaker of the Knesset, Mr. Rubi Rivlin, said: “This is a significant national challenge. The government has allocated considerable resources, and we at the Knesset are doing all in our power to raise public awareness for the Dead Sea, as we understand that the economic impact this challenge can have is very substantial indeed. This region has extraordinary vistas and features, and is already one of Israel’s leading tourist attractions. I call upon the members of the Knesset and upon all citizens to aid in this challenge, to vote and to make a difference in favor of selecting the Dead Sea as one of the world’s seven wonders of nature – on this issue surely we can rise above division.”
Everyone’s voting for the Dead Sea
During the launch both the Minister and the Speaker of the Knesset voted on the competition’s website, and have called on all Israelis to take part in the voting process, which will end on 11/11/2011.
The Minister of Tourism noted that winning this competition would contribute greatly to the development of the region’s economy and tourism, as well as boosting employment and helping to improve Israel’s public image.
Support the Dead Sea on the competition’s web site – CLICK HERE >>
