Nearly One Million Israelis Visited National Parks During Sukkot Holiday
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Around 900,000 Israelis visited national parks and nature reserves during Sukkot.
- Gan HaShlosha was the most visited site, with nearly 30,000 people.
- Travel patterns resembled pre-war Sukkot, with increased northern tourism.
- Overnight camping saw about 39,000 stays, similar to previous years.
- Localized heavy rains fell in Israel, while Crete experienced severe flooding.
- The Nature and Parks Authority responded to 27 rescue and assistance incidents.
Approximately 900,000 people visited nature reserves and national parks across Israel during the Sukkot holiday, according to data released by the Nature and Parks Authority. The most popular site was Gan HaShlosha (The Sachne), which saw about 29,200 visitors. Other highly visited locations included Tel Ashkelon, Park HaMaayanot, Yarkon National Park (Tel Afek), Caesarea, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Me'ayan Harod, Banias Nature Reserve, the National Park Around Jerusalem's Walls, Einot Zukim Nature Reserve, and Dor HaBonim Beach Nature Reserve.
The authority noted a return of visitors to tourist areas, particularly in the north, with travel patterns resembling those seen before the war. Overnight camping sites also reported numbers similar to pre-war Sukkot, with around 39,000 overnight stays. The leading overnight sites were Me'ayan Harod, Tal Grove, Akhziv Beach, Gan HaShlosha, Tel Ashkelon, and Khan Be'erot in the Ramon Crater.
Open areas attracted about 400,000 visitors, with notable destinations including Tzinim Cliffs in the Negev, Switzerland Small in the Carmel, the Great Crater, and Ramon Crater. Raya Shurki, Director General of the Nature and Parks Authority, expressed pleasure at the public's large turnout and highlighted the efforts of staff working around the clock to ensure visitor safety and well-being. She encouraged the public to continue enjoying nature in the autumn season while maintaining cleanliness.
During the holiday, authority personnel responded to 27 incidents requiring rescue or assistance, primarily due to slips, falls, or visitors entering trails beyond their capabilities. Meanwhile, rainfall occurred across a wide area from the north to Ashkelon, characterized by short, intense bursts. Notable amounts included 17mm in Meron within 10 minutes, 13mm in Kibbutz Dafna, and 6mm in Karmiel and Acre. The same weather system caused severe flooding in Crete, where 360mm of rain fell over two days, resulting in significant infrastructure damage and casualties.
Looking ahead, no rain is expected on Sunday and Monday. However, a southern weather system is forecast for Tuesday, potentially bringing rain to the Negev, Arava, and possibly central Israel, though in smaller quantities.
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