Israel’s Municipalities, Hotels Embrace ‘New Normal’ for Spring Holidays Tara Kavaler
With skies still closed, local authorities woo domestic tourism for Passover
With fewer anti-COVID restrictions in place in months and over half the population vaccinated against the virus, Israel’s municipalities and hospitality industry are trying to attract local tourists.
“This Passover, we are returning to normalcy, returning all the happiness and joy to the citizens of Jerusalem and of course to the visitors we are expecting to come here,” Ariela Rejwam, executive director for culture, sports and society in the Jerusalem Municipality, told The Media Line. “We are all extending a warm invitation to all Israeli citizens to come to the capital.”
Golan Businesses Welcome Israeli Snow Tourists as Local Gov’ts Learn from Past Storms (with VIDEO) Tara Kavaler
Municipalities brace, citizens flock north for wintry fun
A week before the storm hit on Wednesday, says Beni Ben-Muvehar, the head of the Mevo’ot HaHermon Regional Council in northeastern Israel, the area’s 50-member response unit began drilling tasks they would need to perform in the snow, such as helping people stuck on the roads.
“We learned that we need to be ready before the snow and not during the snow,” he told The Media Line, referring to the storm of 2015. “We are much more careful about the weather. We start preparing starting a week before the snow is expected and we practice so we’ll be ready when the snow hits.”