Hikers flock to northern Israel
Tens of thousands of Israelis arrive at Galilee's recreation sites. Upper Galilee and Golan Heights hotels operating at almost full occupancy levels
Data provided by tour operators revealed that hotels and guesthouses in the Upper Galilee reached an occupancy rate of 95%, while hotels in the northern Golan Heights operated at full occupancy levels.
Hundreds of hikers arrived Friday for a boat ride at Kibbutz Yar'on and caught a first glimpse of a fawn born at the kibbutz this week. Many hikers arrived at the Manara Cliff, the Tel-Hai area, Kibbutz Kfar Giladi and the town of Metula.
High occupancy levels were recorded in recent days at the Ein Gev nature reserve, with families and young couples arriving for a boat ride in Lake Kinneret and yours of the kibbutz's dairy barn.
Many stopped at the observation posts toward the Syrian province of Quneitra and the Israeli-Syrian border.
Heavy traffic jams expected
All the rooms at Kibbutz Kfar Blum's Pastoral Hotel were booked two weeks before Rosh Hashana. According to hotel manager Dubi Benari, "Like last year, the Israeli tourist puts his trust in the Upper Galilee's recreation sites, and therefore books his holiday vacation in advance, making sure to select places with a kosher certificate.
"It appears that most Israeli tourists are traditional and are interested in celebrating the holiday, and particularly Rosh Hashana meals, with their families at kosher places."
Kibbutz Marom Golan also reported a high occupancy rate at its guestrooms. According to tourism manager Eran Glick, "The Israeli vacationer is satisfied with the level of hospitality which properly meets the demands of a family vacation and causes him to return for a vacation in northern Israel. We continue to invest and upgrade the place all the time, and the results are manifested in the high occupancies."
About 12,000 people arrived at guestrooms and zimmerim (wooden cabins) in the Western Galilee. Many also arrived at the Hanita Forest, the Rosh Hanikar white chalk cliffs and the old city of Akko.
Meanwhile, the Jewish National Fund reported that more than 200,000 people visited the JNF sites and forests across the country in the past two days. Most hikers arrived at the Sataf and Ben Shemen forests in the Jerusalem Hills, the Biria and Carmel forests in the north, and Agmon Hahula in the Upper Gailee. Thousands arrived at the Lahav and Be'eri forests in southern Israel.
Due to the large number of hikers, heavy traffic jams are expected Saturday evening on the roads leading from the Galilee and Golan Heights into central Israel.
