Israel through the lens

Enter the Israel Photo Tour 60 to celebrate the country's forthcoming 60th anniversary of independence and have your chance to win a holiday to the country itself.

This May, Israel will be celebrating its 60th year of independence, with an array of events and celebrations taking place to mark this historic event. As part of the celebrations, people all over the world are being asked to make their own mark on the country’s history by submitting their own pictures and videos to an international competition which will capture Israel at its finest and most beautiful.

The Israel Photo Tour 60 is the brainchild of Israel’s tourism industry* and invites participants from around the world – from amateurs and professionals, Israelis and non-Israelis, tourists and locals – to document their own experiences of this rich and varied country and submit them to the competition. The lucky winner will then enjoy a VIP trip to enjoy Israel all over again.

Submitted pictures must all be taken in Israel; however these can encapsulate anything from landscapes to tourist sites, architecture to wildlife, and holidays to activities. If it caught your eye or you thought it was worthwhile, the chances are, it’s worth submitting.

Winners of the contest will receive round trip flight tickets to Israel, courtesy of "El Al" – the official transporter of Israel PhotoTour 60, as well as a week’s holiday in Israel, presented by the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association.

The deadline for the contest will be the end of November 2008, and the winning pieces will then be put on display in a special exhibition during spring 2009.

All submitted images will be uploaded to the competition website and the project will be rated by voters from around the world. Further details regarding additional stages of the competition can be found at Phototourcup.com.

* The Bureau of Incoming Tourism, the Israel Tourist and Travel Agents Association, the Israel Hotel Association, the Nature and Parks Authority, the Tour-Guides Association, Keren Kayemeth Leisrael, the Countryside Tourism Forum, and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.