Number of visits to recreation sites in Israel 2017-2021

In 2021, the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority recorded over 6.64 million visits to recreation sites in Israel. That was a significant increase compared to the previous year. The country has various recreation sites that attract locals and tourists, from rivers in the north to desert landscapes in the south. In 2021, the Northern District in Israel recorded the highest number of visits to recreation sites, with 2.51 million entries. 

En Gedi and the Banias are highly popular

  En Gedi and the Nahal Banias Nature Reserve are two recreation sites that are particularly popular among Israelis and foreign tourists. Ein Gedi is a unique nature reserve in a desert area located near the Dead Sea in the southern part of Israel. In 2021, the number of visits to En Gedi amounted to 447,800, an increase of 35 percent compared to the previous year. In contrast, Nahal Banias Nature Reserve is a well-known river in the northern area of Israel. The  number of admissions to the Banias reached 382,000 in 2021. 

Increasing number of entries to historical sites

  Besides national recreation parks, several historical sites in Israel are also known outside the country. These sites include Masada and Qumran Caves in the south of the country and the city of Caesarea in the northern Sharon region. Archaeological finds can be seen in these sites. In 2021, the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority registered over 2.54 million visits to historical sites in Israel. This was a rise of over 33 percent compared to the preceding year.