Israeli city forms tourist squad

JERUSALEM, June 24 (UPI) -- Acre, a coastal city in northern Israel, formed a tourist squad, which tells visitors about the city's landmarks and popular sites.

Maariv reported Wednesday Mayor Shimon Lankry decided to form the volunteer squad to attract more tourists.

The volunteers are attending courses with the mayor to learn about the city's historic sites, its heritage and tourist attractions, the paper said.

According to the paper hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Acre each year. The city has also been designated a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Lankry told the newspaper the volunteer members of the tourist squad will wear a uniform and will distribute maps and information pamphlets to tourists.

"Acre is undergoing a tourist revolution, and we are preparing to market the city in many ways, the tourist squad is just one of them," Lankry told Maariv.