MSc at the School of Environmental Sciences

University of Haifa

Tsafrir Ishai

” My research thesis is on “The Israeli Sea Trail – as an economic tourism leverage”. The Israeli Sea Trail is a new walking Trail that will run along the Israeli coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, and it is expected to join the trend of walking tourism that is developing in Israel and around the world. Traveler traffic that will pass along the trail, will pass through and alongside existing rural settlements and various municipal and regional authorities and tourist cities.

The length of the trail is about 250 km, along the coastline there are about 14 km of declared bathing beaches open to the public, and another 109 km which are open to the public but undeclared beaches.

The hypothesis of the research is that similar to walking trails in the world, those walking along the Israeli sea trail will also need different tourist services: accommodation, food services, Tuor guides, culture services and road assistance which can be provided by private entrepreneurs as well as local authorities and towns along the trail.

In the research I will analyze and measure the touristic needs of the travelers, of the touristic service providers and I will perform an economic research to check the economic, marketing and legal programming of the touristic services. The research will focus on demand, supply, limitations, economic analysis and promotion possibilities for the local communities.

The research recommendations will suggest practical and organizational ways and mechanisms for providing sustainable local economic tourism services that provide the required services without harming the natural treasures and the beach along the Israeli sea trail”.

RECEIVED MEDITERRANEAN SEA SCHOLARSHIP for 2024