> What is SETI Tours?
SETI Tours is a community of locals dedicated to helping travelers have positive and enriching
experiences in their visits to Israeli-Palestine, Egypt, and Jordan. Opened in 2004, SETI has
built its business based on excellency and socially responsible business practices.
Our job is to give you the best travel experience available, while helping our
local community grow and flourish.
Our hope is that you connect with the heritage and cultures of the area, and
that such exchange will aid local peace efforts and economic development.
Our pledge is to be a socially responsible company, with hiring practices that are above-standard for local
workers, and with fair and honest prices for foreign travelers. We also pledge to return between 10%-20%
of our profit to local small businesses and development initiatives.
> Our Vision
SETI’s vision is for foreign travelers to benefit from the religious sites and educational resources of
the Middle East, while helping the development of local communities and promoting cultural exchange.
> Our Goals
1) To help foreign travelers have enriching experiences visiting the Middle
East, while promoting understanding and involvement in local cultures and traditions;
2) To benefit local communities through support of small businesses, community programs,
peace and development projects, and charitable contributions.
> Meet Our Managing Director
Aziz Abu Sarah is the Managing Director for SETI Tours. As a Palestinian born
in Jerusalem, Aziz studied Tourism Management from 1999-2001, before beginning
work as both a tour director and as an advocate for the Parent’s Circle Families Forum,
an Israeli-Palestinian peace organization. His peace work has earned him the Silver Rose
Award from the European Parliament, the Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East
from the Institute of International Education, and the Eisenhower Medallion. An integral part of his work
for peace has been the promotion of small business initiatives and business cooperation between Israelis
and Palestinians, and this philosophy prompted him to found SETI Tours in 2004. Aziz speaks fluent Arabic,
Hebrew, and English.
>> To read more about Aziz Abu Sarah, visit his blog.
