(Haipo) – The Hof Carmel Regional Council plenum unanimously approved yesterday (Monday) a strategic plan for regional tourism development, jointly developed by the council and the Jisr a-Zarqa local council. The plan, formulated with the assistance of BDO, seeks to position the area between Atlit and Caesarea as a single tourist region, and to significantly increase the length of stay and visits there.
Innovative concept: "Carmel Beach Time"
The program is based on the regional concept of "Carmel Beach Time," which offers visitors a tourism experience that allows them to slow down, deepen, and enjoy a wide range of nature, culture, cuisine, and communities in one accessible geographic space. The program emphasizes increasing the length of stay of visitors in the area - from visitors for a few hours to a full-day stay and beyond - by creating connections between points of interest, developing tourism infrastructure, and integrating innovative solutions. The process was led by the Carmelim Tourism Association, which works to promote, develop, and market tourism in the area in collaboration with authorities, public bodies, and local businesses.
Professional process with many partners
The plan was formulated in conjunction with meetings with a number of key partners, including the Ministry of Tourism, representatives of the JNF, the Nature and Parks Authority, the Caesarea Development Company, Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael, Moshav Dor, Moshav Nir Etzion, Ramat Hanadiv, the Carmel Drainage and Streams Authority, hotel managers in the area, other regional entities, and private entrepreneurs. The plan was formulated with the understanding that significant tourism development relies on broad cooperation between all players in the area.
Key moves: trails, green transportation, and artificial intelligence
Among the key steps presented in the plan: developing a network of trails, routes and access roads that connect tourist, nature and cultural sites; establishing a "park and ride" system and green regional transportation solutions; placing branded physical elements and uniform signage that will create a clear regional identity; developing smart digital tools, including an artificial intelligence-based system for planning a personalized visitor experience; and strengthening and expanding the accommodation offering, which includes six new hotels that will be built in the area in the coming years. In addition, the plan emphasizes the cultural uniqueness of the area and the cooperation with Jisr a-Zarqa, as part of creating a multicultural tourist experience that connects communities, history and landscape.
Heads of Authorities: "One Space with One Story"
The head of the Hof Carmel Regional Council, Assif Isaac, said: "Today's approval is a significant moment in a long process that we are leading together with our neighbors from Jisr a-Zarqa. We are no longer looking at each settlement separately, but at one space with one story, which connects nature, community and culture. This plan will lay the foundations for transforming Hof Carmel into one of the most significant tourist areas in Israel - while preserving the values that make it what it is." The head of the Jisr a-Zarqa Local Council, Murad Amash, added: "This cooperation is a real opportunity to create a common growth engine for both authorities. The connection between the communities, culture and the sea creates a unique story that is unparalleled in Israel, and this plan allows us to realize this potential together."
Carmelim Association: "From specific moves to a comprehensive plan"
The CEO of the Carmelim Association, Merav Aviv, noted: "The Carmelim Tourism Association has been working for years to connect the region's tourism assets into one complete and integrated experience. The strategic plan we are leading enables a transition from specific initiatives to a comprehensive regional process, connecting businesses, sites and communities, with the aim of creating value for visitors, businesses and residents, and establishing the region as a leading, diverse and sustainable tourist destination." The association's chairman, Dan Hamitzer from Ein Hod, added: "The great challenge in tourism is not only to bring people to the region - but to maximize and optimize the planning of their time in the region. Branding the entire region as a 'time zone' is a different concept than the norm, an original and unique approach that artificial intelligence technology enables. 'Carmel Beach Time' is not just a concept, but an innovative approach to maximizing the experience of visiting and turning the entire region into a story."
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