Israeli tourism sites to become more accessible

The Israel Tourism Ministry and National Insurance Institute are committed to spending NIS 12 million (almost $3 million in US dollars) on improving accessibility at various Israeli tourist sites. “The money will be used chiefly towards making existing tourist sites accessible, since new sites being built are already suited for the handicapped,” Tourism Minister Yitzhak Herzog said in a ynetnews.com article. "Simultaneously, we’ll advance accessibility regulations regarding hotel accommodations, at existing and new buildings, together with the hotel and tourism industry and the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee.” $3 million over three years may not sound like huge money, but the article points out that the previous budget for such spending was only about about NIS 500,000 to 1 million (about $120,00 to $240,000 US dollars) per year in recent years. (Photo of view of Hafia, Israel by Jim Arndt via morgueFile.com)