Sandy Springs officials welcomed a small Israeli delegation Monday as part of a weeklong business and cultural immersion visit.
Seven members from Western Galilee, Israel, arrived in Sandy Springs on Sunday and spent most of Monday meeting with area hotel developers and learning about metro Atlanta's tourism industry. The meetings followed a driving tour of the city, and visits to the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola, officials said.
Western Galilee is a small area in Israel’s northwestern corner.
Up next for the delegation are visits to several Fulton County hospitals and elementary schools.
The delegation's visit comes after Sandy Springs City Councilmembers visited the Israeli city last October. That visit helped sprout a Sister City agreement, focused on sharing ideas in medical technology, information technology and cyber security and tourism.
“In addition to the cultural and tourism possibilities, there is great potential within the business sector, and we are excited to assist in making those valuable connections,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul.
The Western Galilee Cluster includes 12 independent local authorities, which all formed in 2009 to encourage better governance throughout the region.
The country's delegation will continue its tour of the metro Atlanta region through Sept. 18.
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