‘There’s plenty of water in the river’: Israelis trickle north amid tourism drought
Reporter at The Times of IsraelUPPER GALILEE — Keren and Nadav Bocobza made the six-hour round trip from the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon with their four children to spend a day in the north and “support local businesses.”They said they hadn’t been in the area since before October 7, 2023, when during the Hamas onslaught, their house was damaged by rocket fire. They were evacuated for six months and then moved back home.“We call on all people in Israel to come and spend their money here in the north,” Nadav said. “We have a beautiful country.”The Bocobza family is not alone in its desire to support the north: Every day, people call the staff at Kfar Blum Kayaks to find out if the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah is about to launch another rocket or missile barrage on northern Israel. With its location just under four miles from the Israeli-Lebanese…
Despite ongoing security concerns following the October 7th attacks and subsequent Hezbollah bombardments, Israeli tourism to the Upper Galilee remains significantly reduced, impacting local businesses. Families like the Bocobzas are making day trips to "support local businesses" and encourage others to visit. Eyal Greenwald, marketing manager for Kfar Blum Kayaks, notes a 50% drop in tourism, stating, "There’s plenty of water in the river, but not so many visitors."
- The Galilee Development Authority is sponsoring "Yalla Galil," a festival from August 8-20, featuring cultural activities and performances across 15 sites to attract visitors.
- Omer Kurlender, who manages a long-standing dairy farm in Beit Hillel, reports an 80% decrease in bookings but expresses confidence in the region's future.
- Tamara Nataf and her partners opened Trio cafe in Moshav Sha’ar Yashuv in February 2026, just two days before Operation Roaring Lion, and despite initial closure and slow business, they are committed to staying open, believing "the north needs to exist and develop."
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