Page 15 - Discover Israel Magazine - UK edition 2018
P. 15
An orchard in the Western Negev. makes it possible to turn the desert green. Horseback riding tours.
Photo: Tal Glick Join one of the interesting tours at the Photos: Israel Tourism's Flickr Photostream
Experimental Centre, and you will discover Kadesh Barnea Honey.
Ecotourism the advanced agriculture that uses brackish Photo: Tal Glick
water to grow fruits and vegetables in the Camel tours in the desert
In recent years, ecotourism has difficult desert conditions. The tour includes
become a pillar of global tourism, visits to greenhouses and the opportunity Ein Avdat
after years of commercial tourism to taste seasonal produce. So in the winter,
that included giant hotels and made you’ll sample sweet strawberries or juicy
virtually no contribution to the local cherry tomatoes. In the spring, it will be
economy. However, things have started herbs, and it the summer delicious melons
to change. The new tourists want and cucumbers (for more information: http://
to be part of the existing social and www.moprn.co.il/).
environmental fabric and do not want
to harm it. Additionally, more and One of the best ways to get to know the
more tourists are moving away from Negev is to walk it. The Negev Highlands
commercial hotels and souvenir shops are filled with hiking trails that go through
and shifting to hospitality provided by the most beautiful areas. Negev Highlands
local businesses that are tied to the Trail is a social tourism project that enables
environment, and getting to know the a friendly trek throughout the area, making
local traditions and work, which for it possible to meet the people of the desert,
thousands of years combined life with including Bedouin, tribes of nomadic people
ecological conservation. The more who continue to maintain the ancient
ecologically vulnerable a tourism area traditions and live in harmony with the
is, the more important ecotourism is to desert, and academics who lead global
it - sustainable tourism that allows local desert research. Each day, the trek on the
residents to make a living and allows trail ends with a local community. It is based
nature to be the central attraction for entirely on development and promotion of
many more years. People who choose the local economy, which is founded upon
ecotourism take responsibility for the ecotourism. The trail wends its way through
sites they visit and do not only take archaeological sites on the incense route,
advantage of local resources and then such as the Nabataean city of Avdat, ancient
move on. At the end of their trip, they rock art and a farm of ancient agriculture,
will feel almost a personal relationship alongside breathtaking views and cool
with the place, its people and its future. springs. Information about the trail and the
It's an experience that no expensive hikes can be found on the website: http://
luxury hotel can provide. negevhighlandtrail.org.
Mitzpe Ramon is an enchanting town that
overlooks the primal landscapes of the
Ramon Crater. While it began as the place
where quarry workers lived, as far removed
from ecological conservation as can be,
over time tourism replaced the quarries,
large quarries were rehabilitated and
became must-see attractions for geology
buffs. Mitzpe Ramon became a pioneer
of ecotourism, with tourist structures built
using traditional methods, spiritual centres
that take advantage the special atmosphere
in the desert instead of its land. With its
diverse range of possibilities, Mitzpe Ramon
truly offers something for everyone - walking
or bike tours deep into the desert, craft
workshops and yoga, aside from the desert,
and even horseback and camel riding, and
all this without having to give up on good
food and an enchanting atmosphere. There's
still a long way to go before ecotourism
sets the tone, but new winds are in the
arid desert air - winds of change, heralding
a time, when tourism is part of ecological
conservation and is not at odds with it.
D I S C O V E R I S R A E L 15
