The Beit Shemesh-Yehuda Plains Partnership 2000, through the Committee for Economic Development, encourages the development of leading projects and programs in the area of economic development and job creation. Each year, tens of thousands of tourists from Israel and the Diaspora visit a variety of attractions in the Region, including the famous Wine Route and the festivals that take place all year round. Partnership 2000 plays an important role in the labeling of the Region and in its transformation into a prosperous tourist center.

  
During the Intermediate Days of Succot, October 19-20, 2005, the Beit Shemesh Festival for Jewish Rock and Soul Music took place in the Municipal Amphitheater in Beit Shemesh. Taking part in the Festival were Israel's leading musicians and groups in original Jewish and Israeli music. Among them were: Shlomo Gronich, Shai Gabaso, the Moshav Band, which is a local musical group, and others.

More than 10,000 visitors from all over Israel came to Beit Shemesh in order to enjoy quality Jewish music and special attractions for the whole family.

  
"Partnership 2000 and the Committee for Economic Development put a great deal of emphasis on the development of projects with tourism potential that will lead to the development of jobs and new economic opportunities for the region. As part of this philosophy, we chose to expand the Festival to two days. The Festival attracted a large number of visitors and was a great success. We hope that in years to come the Festival will become a platform for cooperation with additional artists and musicisans, both from Israel and the communities of the Partnership in the Diaspora." - Daniel Goldman, member of the Committee for Economic Development.

There are a number of different festivals held in Israel each year. However, this festival is unique both from the point of view of its musical repertoire, which combines well-known musicians with new groups that are just starting out, and from the point of view of its target audience. In this respect, the Festival encourages pluralism and harmony between the religious, traditional and secular communities in the Beit Shemesh-Yehuda Plains Region and elsewhere.

Included in the Festival were a number of activities which took place at several locations in the Region: "Ushpizin in the Forests", olive picking in the JNF orchards, a celebration in nature at Beer Tikvah, a local artists' fair, an ethnic food fair with the participation of local chefs and a variety of activities for children.

Bicycle tours in nature were organized by the Shimshon Riders Association which takes an active part in the project to develop cycling tourism and tnfrastructure. This is one of the new projects under the auspices of the Committee for Economic Development.