The government has approved a NIS 27 million program aimed at encouraging hotel development in Judea and Samaria. As part of the decision, planning for new hotel complexes will be advanced, and at the same time grants will be awarded to entrepreneurs who choose to establish, convert, or expand hospitality facilities in the region.
According to the Tourism Ministry, one of the main goals of the program is to remove planning barriers that hinder the establishment of new hotels. For this purpose, NIS 7 million from the ministry’s budget will be allocated between 2026–2030 to promote statutory plans, map land suitable for hotels, and prepare a planning inventory that will enable future project advancement.
In addition, an allocation of NIS 20 million from the Tourism Ministry’s development budget has been approved for grants to entrepreneurs. The grants will be given for the construction, conversion, or expansion of hotel accommodation facilities and may reach up to 28% of the approved investment volume. According to the plan, this rate includes a base grant of 20% plus an additional bonus of up to 8% under the building permit track. The distribution of the grants will be carried out by a dedicated committee appointed by the Director General of the Tourism Ministry, in accordance with procedures to be published later.
The Tourism Ministry notes that over the past decade, only about NIS 115 million have been invested in Judea and Samaria in tourism infrastructure development, compared to more than NIS 2 billion invested in other parts of the country during the same period. According to them, the new program is intended to increase the supply of accommodation rooms in the area and encourage longer stays by visitors.
Tourism Minister Haim Katz said following the approval of the decision: “The program will enable the realization of the enormous tourism potential in Judea and Samaria. For the first time, we will lead a comprehensive initiative that combines planning, infrastructure development, creation of a land inventory for hotels, and a dedicated track to encourage hotel construction. In doing so, we will remove barriers in the sector, while creating certainty for entrepreneurs and laying the groundwork that will increase the supply of accommodation rooms, attract tourists, and strengthen the local economy.”
The program follows another government decision approved in May, under which NIS 50 million were allocated for the development of public tourism infrastructure in Judea and Samaria.