Page 44 - Holyland Magazine - 2022 Edition

By Omer Eshel

f there is one thing that this pandemic has platform between the guide and the traveler.
taught us, it’s that nothing is certain. The traveler receives a registration link where
they can log into the tour and interact with
We have seen so many times how the the guide. With numerous new sites on offer,
Iwaves of Covid changed government there’s plenty of options to participate in a
regulations, how vaccinations became a virtual tour.
political issue, how borders are being opened
and closed (mainly closed), and how we, in The Bible Comes to life also leads virtual tours
the 21st century, are submitted to God's will, using our top guides.
the same as our ancestors 2000 and 3000
years ago. Will this new technology replace
actual study tours?
We, in Israel, have endured several waves of In one word, no. Nothing can replace the
border lockdowns. If 2019 welcomed more actual visit and experience of seeing a site in
than 4.5 million tourists and visitors, 2021 person.
saw less than 10% of that.
To see the Sea of Galilee, to feel the breeze, to
Israel is known to many around the world smell the mustard seed… all of these cannot
as "The Startup Nation," and this title is true be obtained by a virtual tour.
when it comes to new and fresh ideas. For
that, Israel is one of the leading nations in the Imagine Abraham sitting in Aloney Mamre
world. during the heat of the day, when he sees
the three angels who come to tell him about
Tourism is no different. Since the beginning of Itzhak. Imagine Moses in the desert, not just
the lockdowns, there were many attempts to hearing God's voice but actually seeing the
"bridge" them, from Zoom guided tours and burning bush. Imagine Jesus in the boat,
online presentations, to movies and social standing in the midst of the storm and crying
media. “Silence! Be still!”

New interactive platforms with Nothing can replace the physical connection,
virtual tours the feeling of being there and seeing for
One of the newer initiatives to continue yourself the places where the stories of the
tourism in Israel is the usage of an online Bible took place. Nothing can replace the
interactive virtual tour which is not based on a deep understanding of God's Word when you
3rd party provider, such as Zoom, Team and are in His Land, but this is the whole point.
so on. Virtual study tours are not here to replace,
rather, they are here to give a taste of or a
This process is very complicated and ‘trailer’ to the actually study tour in Israel.
demands a great synergy between all "the
moving parts". I think that Jesus point it out best, that the
strongest way to believe is by actual seeing,
First, we go out to the site and take relevant but even if you do not see first-hand and you
photos of a large-scale area, using several still believe, you are also blessed.
methods of filming from a wide angle to a
360-degree photo. Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you
have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed
Second, we upload the tour to a virtual are those who have not seen and yet have
"3D" map that gives the traveler a deeper believed.” (John 20:29)
perspective of the site and the upcoming
"guided stations".
Third, all the data is uploaded to a special
software that can provide a self and non- Omer Eshel – CEO of The Bible Comes to Life
dependable interactive communication www.tbctl.com

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