With the assistance of the Israel Ministry of Tourism and the Golan Economic Society’s Tourism Division, Jerusalem Santa Issa Annis Kassissieh filmed a Christmas greetings video in the Golan Heights, with its holy sites and breath-taking views of the Sea of Galilee, to be distributed worldwide in December.
Issa, who is the official Ambassador of the Holy Land Santa, is a graduate of the CWH Santa Claus School in Michigan, USA. He began his career 15 years ago as the Jerusalem Santa and has served as the official Ambassador of the Holy Land Santa for the last six years.
According to Issa, he chose to shoot this year’s Christmas greeting on the Golan Heights because it is a unique area that combines rivers and water sources, orchards, and vineyards, hiking and biking, breath-taking views over the Sea of Galilee and holy sites. He added that he is looking forward to returning to the Golan Heights when the area will be covered in snow later in the winter.
Santa’s journey today began at sunrise, on a kayak on the River Jordan, carrying his Christmas tree and presents, followed by a stroll through the citrus and almond orchards typical of the Golan landscapes. After cycling with British cycling star and four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome and his fellow team members of the Israel Start-up Nation professional cycling team who are currently touring Israel, Issa ended the day at the Kursi National Park, site of the Miracle of the Swine. There, as the sun set overlooking the Sea of Galilee, he spread his message of love, peace, and joy to the children of the Golan Heights.
Israel Minister of Tourism Yoel Razvozov: “Promoting religious tourism to the Holy Land around the world is one of my most important missions as Minister of Tourism. Religious tourism builds bridges between peoples and countries, strengthens our international and diplomatic relationships, and represents an important anchor for incoming tourism. The Israel Ministry of Tourism will continue to invest significant resources and efforts in maintaining, improving, and making accessible tourist sites that are significant for all faiths for tourists from around the world.”
