The city of Munich has undertaken a significant initiative by translating its official tourist map into Hebrew, a move designed not only to facilitate navigation for Israeli visitors but to convey an unmistakable message of welcome and support.
"Our decision to translate the city map into Hebrew is rooted in two fundamental considerations," Head of The Department of Labor and Economic Development Clemens Baumgärtner, who oversees Munich's tourism sector, explained. "Primarily, we recognize that Israelis might feel vulnerable in certain global destinations, especially in Germany. We want to communicate clearly that we stand with them, respect their presence, and welcome them warmly to our city at any time. It's essential for us that they feel comfortable here, and we want to demonstrate unequivocally that we support both Israel and its tourists.
"Furthermore, we're witnessing an increasing number of Israeli visitors choosing Munich as their destination, both for general tourism and cultural events like concerts and performances. We understand that seeing tourist information in one's native language creates a sense of belonging, and that's exactly what we want to foster. The Hebrew translation of this map carries a clear message: we want you to feel at home here, and we're taking concrete steps to ensure that feeling."
The Munich tourist map, initially available in German, has been translated into several languages including English, Russian, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic, with Hebrew now joining this comprehensive collection. Visitors can purchase the map for 50 cents at the Marienplatz tourist center, with plans to distribute it to major hotels throughout the city. The Munich municipality has fully funded all aspects of this project, including production, translation, distribution, and printing.
"Since October 7, Munich's city hall has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel. The Israeli flag flies prominently over our city hall, and Munich maintains strong ties with its twin city Beer Sheva," Consul General for Southern Germany Talya Lador-Fresher said. "This initiative to translate the city map into Hebrew and make it available at the city's central tourist office represents another meaningful gesture of solidarity."
