Over 900,000 Travelers Visit Israeli Parks and Reserves During Sukkot Holiday
Around 900,000 travelers visited Israeli nature reserves and national parks during Sukkot, marking a return to pre-war tourism patterns despite a few dozen rescue incidents.
During the Sukkot holiday, about 900,000 travelers visited nature reserves and national parks across Israel, according to data released by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The most popular site during the holiday was Gan HaShlosha (Sahne), which attracted approximately 29,200 visitors.
Popular Destinations and Camping
Other leading sites included Tel Ashkelon, the Spring Park, Yarkon National Park (Tel Afek), Caesarea, the Ein Gedi nature reserve, Ein Harod, the Banias reserve, the Jerusalem Walls national park, Einot Tsukim, and the Dor-Habonim beach reserve. The Nature and Parks Authority noted a clear return of travelers to hiking areas throughout the country, especially in the north, alongside a gradual return to pre-war Sukkot travel patterns.
Overnight campgrounds also saw figures similar to Sukkot 2025, recording about 39,000 stays. Leading campgrounds included Ein Harod, Hurshat Tal, Achziv beach, Gan HaShlosha, Tel Ashkelon, and Khan Be'erot in the Ramon Crater. Additionally, information stations reported that roughly 400,000 travelers hiked open-terrain trails.
We were happy to meet the public in large numbers at the nature reserves and national parks, enjoying the numerous daytime and evening activities, said Raya Shorky, CEO of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Weather and Rescue Operations
During the holiday, authority staff handled 27 incidents where hikers required rescue or assistance, primarily due to slips, falls, or entering trails unsuited to their physical capabilities. Meanwhile, weekend rainfall brought localized downpours from the north down to the Ashkelon region, including 17 mm in Ma'aliya within just 10 minutes.
