The ministry’s Development Budget Committee approved the support budget for 2022 that will assist in the establishment of dozens of projects in local authorities: parking lots, promenades, bridges, sound and light shows, renovating markets and public spaces, unique lighting, trails, parks, observation points and more
Israel: As part of the directive for support in developing public tourism infrastructure, the Israel Ministry of Tourism received 2022 approximately 210 applications from local authorities for assistance in establishing projects in their area, of which approximately 160 applications met the threshold conditions.
The budget available for the construction of tourism infrastructure in 2022 stood at about NIS 340 million. It should be noted that the cost of implementing all the projects is about NIS 700 million, of which the Israel Ministry of Tourism contributed about NIS 410 million (NIS 340 million from the 2022 budget and the remainder from previous years).
In recent months, the projects were discussed in the ministry’s Development Budget committee, and were investigated in accordance with the project standard rating:
Contribution to incoming tourism (35%)
Project maintenance capability (15%)
Matches government and ministry policy (15%)
Contribution to the economic development of the area (15%
Existence of a hotel or tourist accommodation site near the project (10%)
Contribution to domestic tourism (10%)
Tourism Minister Haim Katz: “Improvement of infrastructure and beautification upgrades the tourist experience and encourages returning tourism. I have asked the ministry to prepare a directive for the support budget for 2023, that will place an emphasis on budgetary efficiency alongside maximizing the tourism potential.”
Ministry of Tourism Director-General Dani Shahar: “We are in the midst of preparing the tourism infrastructure in Israel to welcome tourists, following the recovery from the pandemic. We carefully considered the many applications received, and we chose those which would bring the greatest value to tourism.”
