Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov, who is coordinating the preparations for Lag B’Omer celebrations at Kever Rashbi will visit the site this motzei shabbos. During his visit, the minister will check on the final stages of the safety and security preparations which were agreed upon during his preparatory visit to the site last week with MK and Chairman of Yahadut HaTorah Eliezer Menahem Moses.

The minister stressed that ensuring the safety and security of the visitors, access roads and infrastructure status are of paramount importance, as well as the Israel Police preparations for dealing with the expected heavy traffic.

The Tourism Ministry has recently developed a NIS 31 million multi-year plan for developing the kever, alongside the ongoing investment by the ministry which totaled NIS 12 million in 2009 of which NIS 5.5 million was allocated to ongoing maintenance at the site and NIS 6.2 million to the Lag B’Omer celebrations.

In addition, during the last year the Tourism Ministry has focused on developing infrastructure, roads, parking, a terminal for shuttle transport to the site, lighting and improving accessibility and operating services such as drinking water fountains, garbage collection, fire and ambulance, security, stewards and public toilets. Additional monies were allocated to improving the police station and other police needs.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “The kever of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is ready to receive the hundreds of thousands of visitors and tourists who are expected to visit the site on motzei shabbos. This is an important tourist site and the Tourism Ministry will continue to  develop the site for the benefit of the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to the site during the year and not just on Lag B’Omer. Emphasis will be placed on marketing the site overseas in order to increase the number of visitors to over a million visitors during the course of the year.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)