Camping

  • Issue: June 1976
  • Designer: M. Felheim
  • Stamp size: 30.8 x 30.8 mm
  • Plate no.: 465
  • Sheet of 15 stamps Tabs: 5
  • Printers: Government Printers
  • Method of printing: Photogravure

The popularity of camping in Israel developed along quite different lines from that of Europe or the United States, where the camping movement began at the turn of the century and is a popular pastime for families and individuals. In Europe and the U.S. there are millions of campers, many of them organised in Clubs. All over Europe there are thousands of Camping Sites, varying from a simple backyard equipped with a toilet and a few taps, to the super de luxe Campings with their own supermarkets, hairdressers, swimming pools, etc.

The camping movement in Israel began only in 1g64 with the opening of the first camping site at 'Ahziv" and a small private one in Beitan Aharon, and the holding of the International Congress of Camping (F.l.C.C.) in the Exhibition Grounds at Tel Aviv. The reason for this late start was simply the fact that in Israel there were other things that took priority over "Camping". Since 1964 however, the camping movement in Israel has grown quite fast, though not as rapidly as in Europe. The reasons for this are:

In spite of these drawbacks, the camping movement in Israel has since 1964 achieved some measure of success: 18 Camping Sites have been set up so far, and more are in the planning stage. The Israel Camping Club has about 2500 members (families) and the Ministry of Tourism hss formed a Council and enacted a Camping Ordinance to supervise camping sites.

The Camping Movement in Israel has taken a somewhat different form from its counterparts in Europe. Camping sites quickly organised themselves into a voluntary framework called the Israel Camping Site (Owners] Organisation". and in 1968, together with the Israel Camping Club, formed the Israel Camping Union which is the operational arm of both organisations, thus saving administrative expenses, and-in spite of natural differences-creating close cooperation between the two groups.

Because of the very high costs of caravans, which in Israel-be-cause of the small distances-are not essential, small light framed structures called bungalows' have been put up, which are eminently suited to the Israeli climate and are used by those who have not purchased their own equipment.

There are a number of problems which are unique to Israels camping movement:

Camping is still in its early stages in Israel. The Ministry of Tourism does its best to assist its development and to ensure the maintenance of minimum standards so that camping in Israel can be expected to grow.

The Israel Camping Union, a member of the F.IC.C. (The International Federation of Camping and Caravaning') is grateful to the Federation for accepting its invitation to hold the 37th International Rally in Ashqelon. The Israel Ministry of Tourism, the Ashqelon Municipality together with the National Parks

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Camping