Leading lights of the travel and tourism industry will descend on Jerusalem, Israel later this month for the Jerusalem International Tourism Summit, which will place a spotlight on ‘The New Era of Tourism’.

This year a special emphasis will be placed on Urban Tourism as well as Innovative Technologies in the world of tourism and travel.

Global leaders, academics and experts in the field of hospitality will conduct panels discussing a wide range of issues affecting the tourism industry and a special event will focus on technology in tourism, including tourism-related apps.

Tourism professionals will be invited to interact with colleagues, demonstrate their groundbreaking technologies, expand their international business relations and discover new opportunities within the industry at the event, which will take place on May 28th-29th.

Some of the main topics to be discussed will include: The Future of Tourism, A Private Public Partnership; Planning Models for Urban Tourism; Follow the Asian Success Story; Adaptation to the Passengers in the Aviation World; Sport and Urban Tourism; Hotel Development in Cities; The Smartphone Revolution and Urban Tourism Development

Speakers confirmed for the event include: minister Uzi Landau, Ministry of Tourism of the State of Israel; Sheldon Adelson, chairman, Las Vegas Sands Corporation; Michael Leven, president, Las Vegas Sands Corporation; Renzo Iorio, chief executive officer, Accor Italy; and Moshe Lion, chairman of the Jerusalem Development Authority.

Shmuel Tzuriel, chief executive, Israel Hotel Association; Alison Copus, vice president marketing, TripAdvisor for business; Hugh Aitken, UK commercial manager, easyJet; Eric Leopold, director passenger, IATA; and Jonathan Meiri, chief executive, SuperFly will also be speaking at the event,

The Second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit is supported by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Tourism, the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Development Authority in cooperation with the Hebrew University and the ICC Jerusalem - International Convention Center.

Jerusalem is home to some world-class museums, such as the Israel Museum housing the Dead Sea scrolls, and the Tower of David Museum.

Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum and Memorial is also located in Jerusalem.

The destination, Israel’s most visited city attracting 3.5 million international visitors 2012, also showcases stunning architecture, ranging from beautiful churches, monasteries and shrines from the Roman, Byzantine and Crusader times.

For more information on the event head over to the official website.