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Visit Nazareth in 2000
Over two billion Christians worldwide cherish the city of Nazareth and the memories it evokesas the site of the annunciation. Making a pilgrimage to Nazareth needs no promotion.
The city of Nazareth is located in the centre of Lower Galilee at a height of 450 metres above sea level. It developed at the foot of Nabi Sa'in hill. The ancient town centre, where the market and churches are located, is characterised by narrow, steep streets and old houses.
Nazareth is the largest city in the north of Israel and the largest Arab city in the country. With a total population of about 60,000, some 50% are younger than 19. About half of the 10,000 families are living below the official poverty line and 61% of these people are children. Only 5% are in the highest Income segment. About 10,000 people live in the Old City. Sixty percent of the population is Moslem and the rest Christian.
The labour force numbers about 12,600 but approximately 70% work outside the city. Unemployment has recently declined from 25% to 9%. The city has about 1200 commercial buildings, 600 workshops and 500 offices of various kinds. The market covered by these services comprises some 150,000 people in the region. The only factory in the city is Delta Textiles but employment is also provided by Nazareth's private hospitals, 4 bus companies and a number of government offices.
Residential buildings cover some 704,000 square meters constituting 66% of the city's developed area. there are 58,000 square meters of commercial floor space, 46,000 square meters occupied by industry and workshops and 21,000 square meters by offices. There are 14 banks or branches and a large number of building and contracting companies.
The central challenges faced by the city include the creation of sources of livelihood. raising the standard of living, developing vocational and professional training, improving the education system and providing enhanced opportunities for adolescents and young people.
Tourist Infrastructure
In the view of Nazareth Municipality, the main direction of urban economic development in Nazareth is tourism, since it is in this area that the city enjoys a potential relative advantage, and economic development in other spheres should be integrated with and complementary to this. Nazareth's environment is clearly paramount in this and the Municipality will oppose the establishment of any source of pollution or noisy new industry within the city.
Today the city has only five hotels with a capacity of 600 bedsdespite the fact that about 1 million tourists pass through the city each year, only a small percentage of these stay overnight and their economic contribution lo the city is limited. The Municipality wishes to improve this situation. Reasons for the problem include the fact that Nazareth, for a long time, was absent from the official tourist maps, and in general from 1948, was neglected. In addition to the hotels, there are 3 hostels and 2 monasteries. Most of the facilities are 2 or 3 star.
Opportunities and Challenges
The city derives minimal benefit from the present tourism level and there is dissatisfaction from those who visit. There are also constraints on realizing the growth potential. The local institutions are aware of the problems and motivated and willing to contribute to change.
Nazareth is the cradle of Christianity and an international focal point of all Christians. This provides a firm basis for development of the Pilgrim and general tourist marketpotential tourists are already aware of the existence of the site.
The tourism potential is also considerable from a historical point of view with the churches, the old city, the market, and the Well amongst others. There is good potential for preservation, research, museums and contemporary development. Renovations have started and are evident in the Municipal Hall and the new restaurant at Mary's Well for example. Subterranean caves and funnels, not yet excavated, represent another potential focal point.
A museum, scheduled for inclusion in the Old City redevelopment, should be of great interest internationally given the colourful past of the various nations who have traversed the area.
Cultural institutions exist in the town and there is a rich and colourful local heritage which is not given sufficient expression. Festivals and exhibitions, mostly linked to holidays and special occasions need developing.
There has been some improvement in the level of cleanliness of the city but in the light of repeated complaints from visitors there is a need for significant further action.
Entrepreneurs have shown interest in establishing tourist projects in Nazareth. Craft and souvenir shops must be upgraded lo a level compatible with other countriesat present the majority of goods are mostly aimed at local consumption.
Development plans for improvements to the sewerage, water, electricity, energy and other infrastructures have been drawn up and some have already been carried out.
Industrial areas at present within Nazareth and not compatible with a tourist environment will be moved to sites outside the city. In addition to freeing land for use of tourists it will assist in the restriction of inflation of real estate prices. Furthermore, land, available at favourable rates, will be available for anyone wishing to invest in the industrial future. The amount of land available for commercial development will increase in total from the present 180 to 500 dunums.
In conjunction with the Ministry of Housing, residential capacity will be increased, further contributing to control of land prices.
Toward the Year 2000
There has been a significant change in the central government's attitude towards the city. In 1993 Nazareth was accorded "A" development status for tourism, and the Nazareth 2000 project, instituted by the Municipality, focuses on the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Israel has recognised this as a national project with a projected cost of infrastructure improvements of 21 million dollars and completion is planned for the year 2000.
A master plan for transportation including main arteries, parking, safety and public transport is in preparation. The existing Municipal plan is based on developing a ring road (partially existant) and linking it to the city centre and suburbs via lateral roads. The latter already exist but require upgrading. Three centrally located parking areas are envisaged on Pope Paul VI Street and these will liberate an extra lane of the main thoroughfare in each direction. The estimated cost of this project is $80 million dollars. There is also a plan to build a new southern road from the city to the main Afula road without the present dangerous bends! Additionally, a new northern road out of the city towards Haifa is planned.
In the last two years, a program has been created to change Nazareth and make it into one of Israel's central tourism sitesa place that will attract pilgrims for a lengthy meaningful stay. Various government ministries have invested time and money for the development of the city's infrastructure. The Israel Government Tourist Corporation and the Ministry of Tourism have joined with the municipality of Nazareth to prepare the city for celebrations in the year 2000this event will be the catalyst for reversing Nazareth's tourist role. "Nazareth 2000" includes individual projects, such as the renovation of the Old City market, as well as an overall tourism infrastructure plan for Nazareth.
The goal of "Nazareth 2000" is to create and develop tourism and municipal infrastructures for Nazareth that will be comparable with similar projects on an international level. By renovating and highlighting Nazareth's unique and charming assets, the project envisions a "gentrified" city that will attract pilgrims and tourists for lengthy visits. These developments will be coupled with appropriate facilities for accommodation, shopping and foodallowing Nazareth to play an important role in the local and national economy.
The overall budget for "Nazareth 2000" is NIS 295 million including VAT, culled from various public sources. This budget encompasses four budgetary years (19951998) and includes two main components:
NIS 169 million allocated to existing projects that are not dependent upon the tourism program.
NIS 126 million directly tied to "Nazareth 2000."
The "Nazareth 2000" planning team estimates that these public investments will generate $130 million in investments from the private sector.
The fulfillment of the "Nazareth 2000" plan will create real change in Nazareth, bringing about a dramatic rise in tourism income for the city. The Ministry of Tourism predicts that the program will create 1,750 new jobs in Nazareth in the short run and more as tourismrelated business are established. As Nazareth benefits from these developments, it will contribute to the rise in tourism in Israel (estimated to double by the year 2000 and reach 3.9 million tourists annually). It will also enjoy a rise in internal tourism (a segment of the tourism market that is developing at a rate of 9% per year for the past few years).
The most important portion of tourism trade to Nazareth will remain its pilgrims. The peak months for pilgrimage tours to Israel are March, April, October and November. In the offseason months, Nazareth will market itself to the Israeli traveler. Nazareth will be prepared to handle 10,000 visitors a day, and expect a mean average of 5,800 visitors daily.
In order to accommodate this influx of visitors to the city, 2,200 hotel rooms will be added to the 600 room currently existing in Nazareth today. The city will need an additional 5,500 square meters of commercial space and 3,000 square meters of restaurant space.
The transportation program envisions 190 tourist buses, 40 minibuses and 1,000 private vehicles daily. It is estimated that the average will be half this figure.
Putting these programs into effect requires major public funding, cooperation between all the sectors and bodies involved in the city, the preparation of a marketing plan, encouraging private investors, creating events for "Nazareth 2000" and adhering to a strict timetable.
For more information, contact:
Tourism Department Director
Nazareth Municipality
P.O.B. 31 Nazareth
ISRAEl 16100
Tel. +972 (0)6-645-9250
Fax. +972 (0)6-657-6824
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