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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:
- The lack of a five-day working week.
- The absence of a camping equipment industry whose advertising campaigns could influence people to become campers.
- The ecological problems, which have only recently made themselves felt in Israel.
- The military reserve duties, which many heads of families spend "camping" in the Army for long periods.
- The relatively small distances in Israel-which allow everyone to return home at night; The fact that campers from other countries (tourists) can come only by boat or car ferry, which limits their numbers.
- Taxes and duties on camping equipment are very high, thus discouraging would-be campers because of the expense.
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:
- Local visitors. About 75% of the campers are Israelis, and their friends and families are only a few hours drive away from any site. Camping sites are packed on Holidays with one-day visitors, who spend the day there, picnicking, playing games or resting, and creating a congestion which makes things difficult for everyone. (In Europe campers travel mostly from one country to the other and this problem hardly exists).
- There is a very large percentage of new immigrants in Israel, not all of whom have a basic regard for order, cleanliness and tolerance, which are the mainstays of orderly camping behaviour.
- Although the weather permits camping almost the whole year round in Israel, the camping season lasts 70 days at most. The average Israeli cannot be persuaded to take his holidays outside of July and August and the High Holidays. This makes the maintenance and earnings of each Site a continuous problem.
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