The Ministry of Tourism is announcing today (Thursday, April 3) a new procedure for the renovation of accommodations that hosted evacuees since the beginning of the Iron Swords war, led by Minister of Tourism Chaim Katz. The total budget: 175 million ILS. This includes grants to a wide range of accommodations – from hotels to guesthouses and vacation apartments – that were damaged due to the prolonged stay of thousands of evacuees.
The renovations will cover damages such as painting walls, removing broken tiles, repairing and replacing carpets and furniture, and more. Compensation will be provided up to 75% of the expenses, depending on the level of the accommodation and the actual number of nights stayed, and will not exceed the amount allocated to the lodging.
Since the outbreak of the war, about 90,000 evacuees have been accommodated in approximately 670 lodging places. Currently, around 4,426 evacuees remain in about 250 sites across the country. The long stay has turned the hospitality facilities into a substitute home – a phenomenon that has caused significant physical damage to the rooms and public areas, requiring rehabilitation to restore the places to a normal tourism standard.
The grants will be given based on requests that will be collected by May 20, 2025, with claims for compensation being submitted up to six months after the last evacuee leaves.
Minister of Tourism, Chaim Katz. Photo: PR Minister of Tourism Chaim Katz: "Hotels opened their doors wholeheartedly and became a home for the evacuees. As residents return to their homes, as we promised, we will work to restore the lodgings to their original state, so they can host tourists in the best experience. Through direct agreements with the hotels and the replacement of agents who charged fees for room placements, the Ministry of Tourism saved the state treasury billions of ILS."
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