DUN'S 100 - 2016

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Local Authorities
581
2016 | DUN’S 100 DUN’S 100 | 2015
DUN’S 100 | 2016 2016 | DUN’S 100
14 Local Authorities (less than 50,000 Residents)
RANK
Tiberias Municipality
Tiberias, the northern district city, the only
one upon the Sea of Galilee shores, has
48,134 residents, extends over 3,803 acres
and boasts over 2,000 years of history and heri-
tage. Tiberias is an important tourism site, due to
its proximity to the Sea of Galilee and its religious
significance for Jews and Christians. The city was
founded in 20 CE by Herod Antipas andwas named
after the Roman Emperor,Tiberius. In Jewish history,
Tiberias is considered one of the four holy cities.The
history and events occurring in the region confer
to the national lake and the city of Tiberias’ great
global importance and the sacred, distinctive sites
along the lake’s shores are visited by tens of thou-
sands of travelers and attract sports and leisure
tourism alike.
Tiberias – A National Treasure: Tiberias is located
on an unexploited archeological site, the exposure
and rehabilitation of which will render it an interna-
tional tourist site, which will create further growth
pertaining to tourist and leisure economy, and will
become a first rate tourist attraction. Its renowned
project is the archeological park, which will include
an ancient city, with stores, public bath houses,
remains of an 8th century synagogue, a center for
Torah studies, a city gate, a port, etc. At the center
of the park there is a cardo and a luxurious Roman
theater, similar to those in Caesarea or Bet Shean,
which has 5000 seats overlooking theSea of Galilee
and the Golan Heights. This park will host outdoor
shows and cultural events, in an atmosphere only
Tiberias can offer.
Infrastructure Development, Transport & Housing:
According to the city’smayor, Yossi Ben David, “The
city ofTiberias is in a development momentum, at a
construction rate that is parallel to the past 15 years.
The investment is not only performed in the new
neighborhoods but also in the old ones. We con-
tinue to invest in infrastructure, in paving new roads,
squares, changing the lighting array in the city to
new led lightings. The development momentum in-
cludes constructing new hotels, developing public
beach strips and other tourist-related projects”. The
Tiberias Committee ofMinisters stated that as part of
the city’s 2000-year anniversary, it will be endowed
over NIS150million, to be invested in various proj-
ects. In addition, the residents of Tiberias receive a
7% tax benefit, as of January 2016. The past year’s
major projects include paving Ariel Sharon Route
(route 438), paving route 9 and route 3, paving route
1, paving squares, resurfacingmany roads and con-
necting to the train infrastructure expected in 2025.
The return on apartment investments in Tiberias is
among the highest in the country, between 6-9%
accordingly, and according to the surveyors’ data,
apartment prices are expected to rise at a rate of
8-12%. The city is also undergoing a great construc-
tion momentum and is close to executing a 7,000
residential units’ agreement with the Ministries of
Economy andHousing and the Israel Land Authority.
The city, which has been enjoying positive immigra-
tion, is highly active regarding housing, and, among
others, three newneighborhoods are already being
developed and marketed. Michelangelo Kinneret,
Yaar Tzvi – 32 plots for ground level construction
and 10 buildings, altogether 176 residential units,
Horesh Haekaliptus neighborhood – 150 ground
level units and “Mul Arbel” neighborhood – 431
residential units, out of which 88 are at ground
level. The neighborhood includes an outline for
“Mehir Lamishtaken”. In addition, “Mitzpe Rakat”
neighborhood is at its pre-development stages of
100 units, “Moradot Vadi Rakat” with 1,000 units
including an outline for “Mehir Lamishtaken”,
Harakafot neighborhood with 500 units, “Moradot
Tiberias B” with about 1,100 units and “Tiberias
the Moshava” with 1,960 units. The neighborhood
is in its advanced planning stages and includes an
outline fot “Mehir Lamishtaken”. A sports campus is
being constructed, whichwill include a 5,000 seats
soccer stadium, a basketball hall, a congress center,
a practice field, an athletic field, an olympic pool,
tennis and squash courts and a parking lot. Esti-
mated construction price is NIS 120 million. Adelis
park– Egoz garden – in upper Tiberias, a huge park
is being constructed for the residents’ wellbeing,
Egoz garden parkwith huge lawns, a reflecting pool,
waterfalls, seating areas, shadowed playgrounds, a
big amphitheater for shows, etc. In addition, the city
isworking on the construction and strengthening of
buildings and schools pertaining to urban renewal.
Lately, an impressive city pool was inaugurated and
a new “Beit Yad Labanim” was constructed, which
includes an art center, a luxurious Cinematheque
hall, a memorial hall and an amphitheater.
Education: The city’s educational system, serv-
ing 10,884 pupils daily, enjoys great investment
stemming from the city’s strive for excellence. The
formal educational system includes 88 kindergar-
ten classes, 17 elementary schools, 4 junior high
schools, 4 high schools, a special education school,
3 professional training institutions and a marine
school. The city operates educational programs for
improving academic achievements such as Adelis,
Azrieli, chess, Young Eagles, Atidim and Kdam Ati-
dim. Two pre-military preparatory programs are also
active: “Maase BeGalil” and “Kol Ami”.
Employment: Tiberias offers benefits to encourage
the establishment of new plants and the reinforce-
ment of existing plants. A Hi-Tech park will be built
in Tiberias on 164,000 sq.m., with its main area
located upon 64,000 sq.m. The developing tourism
industry is a key source of employment. In addition,
a new industrialzonewas established inUpperTibe-
rias and “Kidmat Galil Industrial Park”, inwhich the
municipality is a partner with other local authorities.
There is a significant decrease in unemployment
and the rate of unemployed is 6.6%.
Tourism, Culture and Leisure: Tiberias is one of
Israel’s leading cities in domestic tourism, with in-
novative hotels at the Sea of Galilee’s shore. 34
hotels operate in the city including elegant bou-
tique ones alongside hostels. The accommodation
average is 2.4million lodgings per year, aspiring to
achieve 3 million. 3 hotels are under construction,
and 3more are being planned, alongwith additional
rooms in existing hotels, totaling in an additional
1,000 rooms to the existing 4,300. A new hotel site
is plannedwith 8 resort hotels and the development
of Dekel Beach in the northern entrance with a new
boardwalk beside it. The major sports event in the
city is the Sea of Galilee marathon, also known as
“International Tiberias Marathon” which will cel-
ebrate its 40th anniversary thisyear. During the past
year, the city added a unique attraction: Israel’s first
floating water park in Ganim Beach.
Esta b l i s he d
18 AD (the first century)
L i n e o f B u s i n ess
Municipal Services
Tabur Ha’aretz St., P.O.B. 508, 1410501
Tel: 972-4-6739546
Fax:972-4-6739638
Yossi Ben David
Mayor *
* See Top Executives Profiles - Page 582