Israel as a destination has never been more enticing to visit, and as the Israel Ministry of Tourism announces a series of upcoming initiatives in the hospitality industry, as well as a range of cultural events and exhibitions, the country is set to be a much-desired holiday destination in 2023 and beyond.
A new era for Israeli hospitality
From Eilat to the Dead Sea, a swathe of new projects is set to increase the hospitality offering across the country. A selection of new hotels along the Dead Sea have been announced, reshaping the coastline with a series of new islands, peninsulas and inlets. The initiative will double accommodation for tourists in this area by adding over 4,000 rooms along an extended promenade by 2026.
New for 2023, the first Curio Collection by Hilton property in Israel, Swell Beach Hotel, Ashdod, will open in March, designed by renowned architect Lea Rubanenko and luxury interior designer Daniel Hasson. Luxury Accor brand Pullman will also open Pullman Hotel Jerusalem, its first in Israel.
In Tel Aviv, exciting new hotel openings include international hotel collection Brown Hotels’ Theodor Boutique Hotel and The David Kempinski Tel Aviv. Over in the seaside resort of Eilat, known for its colourful diving offering, Stay Eilat has recently opened its doors, a chic adults-only boutique property located centrally in the resort town. New to the city of Nazareth, boutique hotel The Blend is a fusion of traditional and contemporary, situated at the very centre of the destination.
Elsewhere, construction work has begun on the luxurious desert resort, Midbar, in Arad, a city in southern which borders the Negev desert region. The 110-room hotel, part of Israeli hotel brand Fattal, will be a five-star deluxe property with views over the Dead Sea.
Arts, culture and events
Alongside its hospitality industry, Israel will welcome a host of festivals, events and new cultural launches in the year to come.
In Jerusalem, the famous Tower of David Museum is undergoing extensive renovations, reopening to the public in March 2023 with seven new galleries, a new permanent exhibition and full accessibility. Israel’s government also recently approved the establishment of the Albert Einstein Museum at Safra Campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, expected to become a major tourist attraction in Israel.
Elsewhere in Jerusalem, artist Sigalit Landau’s new The Burning Sea exhibition at The Israel Museum showcases a fascinating range of sculptures, installations, video works, and photographs, including the premiere of new works and sculptures from the artist’s acclaimed series of objects transformed by the Dead Sea’s salt-rich waters. The exhibition is on view until 17th June 2023.
For the active traveller, on 3rd February 2023 the Dead Sea Marathon will take place, where participants will run through the lowest point on earth, surrounding by views of the crystalline waters. For those who prefer a tour of one of the oldest cities in the world, the Jerusalem Marathon takes place on 17th March.
Lastly, renowned as one of the top destinations for LGTBQ+ travellers across the globe, Tel Aviv’s extravagant Pride Week celebrations take place at the beginning of summer, attracting 250,000 visitors from around the world. From 5th – 11th June 2023, the streets are filled with parades, live music, beach parties, food festivals, fashion shows and much more.
Sustainability
Social and environmental sustainability is a consistent thread in Israeli culture. Israel has a number of collective and cooperative communities that practice organic farming, recycling, and host programs in eco-tourism. Kibbutz Lotan in the Arava Valley is a kibbutz founded by American immigrants to Israel who have taken the lead in showing Israelis and tourists how to create environmentally gentle, sustainable desert communities, organic farming, and architecture based on natural and recycled materials. Lotan, together with neighboring kibbutzim Yahel and Ketura, has set up programs of desert eco-study, eco-hikes, birding, meditation and relaxation, in tandem with the chance to live in and observe these communities.
The latest in travel
With a number of hospitality projects on the horizon, the travel industry is also responding to an increase in demand with a series of changes to look forward to.
In the airline industry, national airline carrier for Israel, El Al, recently announced a new direct route between Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport and Dublin, launching in March 2023. In addition, as of March 2023 Virgin Atlantic will add an extra daily flight from London to Ben Gurion airport.
Ben Gurion Airport also plans to digitalise procedures for overseas flights. New electronic kiosks are to be installed, where passengers will be able to immediately check in their luggage, shortening check-in lines and removing the airport’s initial security check, allowing visitors a seamless travel experience in and out of the destination.
For more information, visit goisrael.com.
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