Good news for snow and ski lovers: entrance fees to the Mt. Hermon ski site will drop 30% and will be regulated by the Tourism Ministry. The reduction of entrance fees, which until now have been NIS 250 for a day pass, and NIS 200 for a half-day pass, will be made possible by an agreement that was signed by the Israel Land Authority Council and the Mt. Hermon company, owned by Moshav Neve Ativ. Under the agreement, the company will pay annual royalties of 5% of entrance fee revenue and income from other activities.
The Mt. Hermon company will lease the mountain from the Israel Land Authority for a period of 49 years, retroactively effective from 1996. The leasing contract will include terms under which the government and Tourism Ministry will oversee the cost of entry to the site. The company will be required to maintain appropriate service levels throughout the leasing period. The Israel Land Authority, or one of its sub-committees, will be authorized to reduce the prices.
Minister of Housing and Construction Uri Ariel said: “The situation in which natural resources are exploited for the unregulated benefit of an economic organization must end. The Hermon ski site is one of the most popular recreational attractions, and it must be made accessible to everyone while maintaining fair prices and appropriate service levels, and so I gave instructions to enact the agreement so that entrance fees would drop 30%.”
Israel Land Authority head Benzi Lieberman said: “The Hermon is a national resource, and the requirement for the company to pay royalties will protect public interests.”
Each winter 300,000 people visit the Hermon ski site. The site covers 600 acres, at heights ranging between 1,600 2,040 meters (5,200 and 6,700 feet). The site includes 45 kilometers (30 miles of slopes) and operates 11 lifts.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 7, 2013
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