New Israeli AI platform aims to help Christian pilgrims plan Holy Land visits, wins Amb Huckabee’s support
App provides practical tips and spiritual inspiration tailored to the user's preferences
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has enthusiastically endorsed a new Israeli-made product to help plan personalized tours of the Holy Land. The free, AI-driven platform is designed to take the stress out of traveling to Israel for Christian pilgrims.
Speaking at the launch of HolyLandTravel.ai in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Huckabee promised, “Once you have come to Israel and walked the land, for the rest of your life you will read the Bible in 4K living dynamic color. This is an incredible app, one of the most practical tools I have seen for planning a tour to the Holy Land.”
The app builds tailor-made itineraries in seconds, generating relevant videos and podcasts to teach about the sites selected, offering practical help and immersive inspiration.
The launch event took place as part of the annual International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) conference and showcased the new program, which was an initiative of Jack Gottlieb, an American-Israeli philanthropist. His organization, Abrahamic Pilgrimage, collaborated with computer science students at Reichman University to develop the platform.
Since his first visit to Israel in 1973, Huckabee has led scores of Christian groups to the country on more than 100 trips before moving to Jerusalem in his role as the U.S. ambassador. A strong advocate for tourism to Israel, he expressed appreciation for the new app and the opportunities it offers.
“There are 80 million Evangelical Christians in America and all of them would want to travel here,” he said. “I have seen hundreds of all ages make the journey and experience a trip of a lifetime. It’s not just the size of the country, but the unbelievable impact it has on the world every day. In 1973, I discovered a place that is absolute magic, where you can see with your own eyes what you have seen in the pages of the Bible.”
Huckabee continued: “That’s the reason why anyone, whatever age or faith, will find this to be one of the most incredible experiences they could have.”
Gottlieb spoke about how the app could revolutionize tourism to Israel: “HolyLandTravel.ai is where the past meets the future. Whether at home or already in the land, pilgrims can bring the Bible alive by planning their journey and logistics in seconds, then kick back for days learning about each and every place with their own specially generated AI podcasts and videos.”
He explained: “The last five years have been devastating for the Israeli tourism industry. That is why we teamed up with some of the brightest young minds from Reichman University to bring back the pilgrims. Mainstream AI platforms have become the new travel agents, but unlike HolyLandTravel.ai, they are not programmed to understand the unique nuance and complexity of religious journeys to the Holy Land.”
Director of Tourism at the Jerusalem Development Authority, Stephen Rubin, praised the HolyLandTravel.ai app, saying: “This initiative is a blessing not just for those in tourism but also for the country. Proactively reaching out to our friends, the millions of believers, and providing a platform directly connecting them to Jerusalem and Israel will eventually translate into a post October 7th renaissance within pilgrimage tourism. “
Gottlieb added: “Like everything in Artificial Intelligence, this HolyLandTravel.ai will only improve with time. We have begun by showcasing the city of Jerusalem, the holiest and arguably the most complex city on earth. Within months, we will have the entire Land at click's length. We are first gifting this to the Evangelical Christian world, Israel’s largest and most loyal audience, with plans to improve the experience to give every person from all denominations and faith, the opportunity to see Israel in the best possible light.”
Though initially targeted at the Christian Evangelical market, additional denominational layers are in development for Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and others. Users can find practical tips and spiritual inspiration tailored to their preferences, with curated trip suggestions that can be saved, edited and shared.
As the first such app of its kind, the creators of HolyLandTravel.ai describe it as “a one-stop platform for pilgrims, for those about to travel and those in the pre-planning stage.”
“Start planning a trip with your friends and family with this incredible app,” Huckabee urged.
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Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
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