Autor: Ing. Uriel Stock, M.Sc. Fecha: 1981-08-24

1. Planning Tourist Resorts in Israel
on a National and Regional Basis
Ing. Uriel Stock, M.Sc.
Israel being a young country had to build up its economy to becorne
independent and increase exports and income in foreign currency. A
lot of attention was given to develop the natural resources of the
country which is not very rich.
The basic elements for tourism are many in the country but as we
do not have the time to wait for development of facilities and services
during generations, a lot of planning had to be done. Also the dependability
and influence on other factors and elernents of the econorny make it necessary
to plan and become a part or give input to other general national and re-
gional planning.
Change in Tourism
During the last 20 years there has been a big change in tourism which is
part of the general change of economy in the Western World. This might in
sorne way change again because of the energy crisis but it will take sorne
time and nobody knows the exact tendency and magnitude.
The average tourist, instead of being old, rich or wealthy and lazy, want-
ing to rest on a deck chair or have sorne Lun, today is much younger and
active and generaily part of the rniddle class or youth.
He is looking for active popular activities of recreation, sports and
shopping. Others come for Health Therapy, Religious Pilgrirnage, Comrnercial
visits, Study or Conventions.
Most of tourism today is organized in groups and the trips are sold as
packages including travel, hotel accomodation, excursions, entertainernent
and even sports and cultural activity.
Demand and offer
It is always difficult to estimate the demand for tourist resorts and
services. A general error is made sometimes by studying statistics and
trying to make extrapolation from the figures or even tendency of the
past to the future. First of all the conditions change from time to time
and today, all over the world, more quickly than ever.
Second, the offer of new sites, resorts or services creates the demand
by inspiring people to come.
Therefore, demand can only be estimated with experience and uncertainity
by considering all factors involved and sometimes even taking calculated
risks as in any new branch of business or industry.
Natural and other attractions
The main features for tourism are stihl the natural attractions as Land-
scape, Seashore, Chimate, Mineral springs (spas) for drinking and bath-
ing, therapeutic rnud, Air and Radiation, Historical or Religious sites,
old and new environments, museums, culture, folklore, art and handicraft,
entertainement, technology, education and medicine.

2. -2-
These attractions can be natural or improved by development or created
new by men for tourism alone or other purposes and might serve tourism
also.
Tourist services
These include today all direct and indirect services the tourist might
need or want to use during his stay or trip.
Transportation - airfields, ports, buses, train, tram, taxis, underground,
cable cars and special features as horse wagon or carts, etc.
Accomodatjon - hoteis, motels, recreation vihlages, bungalows, camping
sites, youth hosteis, rooms to rent, trailers, boa"ts.
Entertajnement - restaurants, bars, night clubs, theatres, operas, con-
certs, cinemas, luna parks, play grounds, casinos and racing facilities.
Sports - bathing beaches,swinrnfng pools, yachting marinas, fishing piers,
hunting grounds, ski pists, sports grounds, riding ways and grounds and
bicycle ways.
Commercial - shops, markets, local handicraft and tourist souvenir
industries.
Convention and secretarial services
Cbruides and organized tours
Health services
The services are combined from the facilities and the trained and good-
willed staff.
Standards and Perimeters
In order to plan or evaluate sites and services for touism, you have to
prepare a scale for standards and perimeters including quality and
quantity for every function.
These again have to be estimated from international or local standards,
if existing, and adapted from time to time according to experience and
changes in conditions.
Self containing and optimal units
From studying the development of tourist resorts and attractions which
have been successful, you will learn that during the years and many
times without planning, but according to natural development, these
places have grown into self-containing and optimal units. That means
there is a certain minimum of size and minimum of variety of services
which have to be given in order to fulfil demands and needs of the
tourist. It has also been found that the mixture of standards may in
many cases be of advantage in order to vary the type of tourists coming
to one place.
For instance, if you develop a health resort or ski resort, besides the
people who are active in the main activities and want to enjoy the rest
of their time in other activities there, may be accompanied by family
or friends who do not take part in the main activity but want to take
part in other activities.

3. -3-
The best example for the smallest self-containing unit is the recreational
village of "Club Mediterranee" where you get everything you need for re-
creation, sports and entertainement in the village itself and this is the
main responsibility of the manager, not only accomodation and food as in a
hotel.
Combination with other factors
One of the major problems of development of tourist resorts is the com-
bination and dependence on other factors as infrastructure, manpower, edu-
cation, local and general policies and funds for investment.
There is very seldom a tourist resort which can be developed independently
as an island and if so it might become too "sterile" or too sensitive to
seasonal and other fluctuations and thereby in danger economically and
what is concerning activity.
Therefore, planning arid operation have to take under consideration all
other factors and try to be in harmony and leave enough flexibility for
changes because of the other factors.
Flexibility
Uncertainty and the time element, because of inflation, become more anid
more governing factors in our economy and especially in tourism. It is of
major importance to make a plan which is flexible and can be changed even
during time of execution because of changes in policy and conditions.
The plan should draw up all the data and estimated figures and develop a
inechanism which shows the sensitivity of each function or factor and the
influence of one on the others.
For instance, if there is space located for hotels of certain grades but
it shows up that other grades are more favourable because of charter
flights or other changes, the plan should enable to change the type and
also the size of the different installations and services, as long as the
general scope and characterç
A plan should always leave place for growth in future but it should be
divided in operational or functional stages, each of which is complete by
itself and does not look or function as not completed.
This is especially important for planning on the regional and national
basis where there should be enough fiexibility to consider that if one
project or region acts differently from planned, you have always the pos-
sibility to find solutions in adjoining on equivalent projects or regions
which might enable the plan to be carried out as a whole with internal
changes.
This of course refers to the budget and investment too.
Operation and follow up
Many plans have become fice drawings stacked in a drawer for future study
or as a feature for the politicians especially before elections.

4. -4-
Every plan should be stating clearly the operational part in stages
and by different public government or private agencies. But there
should be one executive organisation which is resposible to carry
out or at least coordinate and follow up the execution including
adapting the plan according to changing conditions.
This is especially ilnportant if you look at a plan as a inechanism
which has to be permanently changed and adapted according to feed-
back from execution and changing conditions.
The executive organisation should be able to locate or at least advise
about the funds to be invested and the priority between the different
stages.
These principles were applied during the last 10 years on planning
tourist resorts in Israel and are correct both on the national and re-
gional level.
Examples of the different regions and the different sites and services
will be given on the map.
The increase in tourism and the growth and increase of standard in
services show that the plan has been successful but is not quickly
enough executed and adapted because financial and manpower limitations.

5. &fo
Planning the Negev - an Example for
National Planning
Ing. Uriel Stock, M.Sc.
General
Big parts of the world are a desert. Facts show that in spite of
sorne of the deserts being turned into fertile land, or inhabited
land, many other grea-i and vegetated parts especially in Africa turn
into new deserts.
Urban development and growing industrialisation are the reason for
that.
Future generations will have real problerns of nourishment and of
quality of living and will have to irnplernent all knowledge and developrnent
of science and technology to solve this problem.
lii many countries there is a problern that many different government or
public departments or institutions are responsible for different fields of
activities and resources and it is very difficult to bring thern together
to work out an optimal national plan taking under consideration the dif-
ferent economic and social factors.
We want to bring the planning of the Negev - the southern region of
Israel, which used to be and parts of it still re,agood example. 'J
for planning and implementation on a national level. We will also stress
the problems which have not yet been solved and the difficulties which
rose and rnight still rise in future.
The Negev includes two regions in the south of Israel with a total area of
about 14,000 square kilometres (3.5 million acres) which are about 60% of
the area in Israel.
The northern and coastal region of Ashkelon includes 1000 square kilo-
metres and is mo--it,,inhabited and the souther i region of Beersheva includes
13,000 square kilometres.
The population in the Negev when the state of Israel was founded in 1948
was about 6000 Jews and about 6000 Arab Beduin tribes, together being
about 2% of the whole population of Israel.
In the year 1954 there were about 35,000 + 47,000 = 82,000 inhabitants
including about 13,000 Arab Beduin tribes. In the year 1974 the, population
was 400,000 and in the year 1980, 200,000 + 300,000 = 500,000 which are
about 11% of the population of Israel.
Aim of Planning
One of the main reasons for the planning was the need to increase disper-
sion of population all over Israel because there are big concentrations
along the shoreline of the country.
The project of planning ahd developing the Negev was announced as a
national target even by first Premier, David Ben Gurion, but a comprehensive
master plan was worked out only these last years taking under consideration
the influence on many factors of the economy and quality of hife all over
Israel.
la

6. -2-
The Negev is the main reservoir of land for developing Israel and can
house the industries which are heavy or pollusive and need big parceis
of land and relatively big distance from towns and concentrations of
population.
The need for additional fertile land for agriculture, which is nearly
used up in the north and unfortunately was partly covered with towns
and industrial plants, drive the planners to find this in the Negev,
although the lack of water resources looked as if this would be pro-
hibitive.
The minerais found in the desert and special geologic formations were
and can be in the future a very good basis for basic and more sophisticated
chemical industries.
And last but not least, the possibility to keep up the spirit of pioneering
which was so typical of the state during its first years is quite neces-
sary to help us survive in the difficult conditions we have to uve in.
System
Taking the conditions, aims and means under consideration and trying to ex-
amine all factors and the influence on one another, the different resources
and fieldof activity for development were defined.
Population and living conditions - quauity of life
Agriculture
Indus try
Transportation
S. Water
Energy
Education
Health
Nature Preservation (including historic sites)
lo. Tourism
flefp.n'
Connection with neighbcing countries
Representing the different Government ministries and public agencies,
working groups were set up in every one of these subjects, consisting
of professionals and specialists partly independent or connected with
the Academy especially with the University of Beer Sheva.
The idea of having interdisciplinary groups was carried out in every
subject and later in trying to make out an optimal plan based on the
findings and recommendations of each of the working groups.
An overail steering comniittee was founded to direct and advise the
different groups and with the help of independent advisers and consultants
the plan was evaluated at each stage.
There was a permanent feed-back with all other regional and national plans
and the plans and directives of the different ministries and agencies on
the national basis for the present and the near future.
Natural resources and conditions
The plan was based on the natural resources and local conditions taking
under consideration the existing infrastructure and population and the
needs of the region and the whole country in future.

7. -3-
The plan tried to overcome the local difficulties and disadvantages
compared to other regions of the country and make the best out of
the local advantages which are:
- The big open area and the location between the Mediterranean, the
Dead Sea and the Red Sea
- The minerals and ores, natural quarries and special geological
formations
- Dry and moderate climate in certain areas with special climates
in different regions during the seasons of the year
- The elevation differences between the Mediterranean, the mountains
and the Dead Sea
The biggest disadvantage of all being an arid zone with very little
rainfail and very little water resources.
Population
The population could grow accurding to a master plan if attractive
environment would be created,where the quality of life is much higher
than in other parts of the country.
This could be achieved by building new towns and settlements and
creating attractive opportunities for ernployment in industry and
services, avoiding pollution as much as possible and creating good
ways of cornmunication and transportation. Also building and developing
sites for tourism and recreation to be used by the local population.
Special consideration had to be given to the social and cultural problem
taking under consideration the different origin and habits of the popu-
lation, most of thern irnmigrants from all over the world.
Experience from the existing towns and neighbourhood was used as those
were quite successful in respect of integration to one society living
together not without eliminating the different habits and cultures. The
irnproving of education especially higher education near home is and will
be an incentive for people to come and live in the region.
The spirit of pioneering which gives the youth an aim or target to live
for was never ignored and is quite an attraction in our rnaterialistic
civilised world.
Agri culture
Taking under consideration the experience from the past where large
areas south to Ashdod and up to Beer Sheva and sorne areas even to
Eilat were planted and cultivated, rnade it possible to plan increasing
the existing settlernents and founding new o's if water resources
could be found. The different ways of settling, The Kibbutz - community
settlernent, The Moshav - settlement with cornmunal agriculture and in-
dustry and the village, make it possible for people with different
tastes to find the way of life which is inost attractive or adequate for
them.
The possibility to develop agriculture on a big scale are completely
dependent on more advanced technologies and new water resources but can
take big advantage of the special climate, especially for export and
using solar and geotherrnic energy to increase the crop.

8. -4-
There are a lot of possibilities to rationalize and increase efficiency
of existing infrastructure and building a new one to work up agricultural
crop to food and other products.
Means of transportation have to be improved to enable quick and cheap ex-
port from seasonal products.
The plans include 30 new settlements in the first stage and up to 100 ad-
ditional ones in the second stage to the year 2000 increasing number of
agricultural units from 10,000 to 15,000.
Better comiiiunal education and health services are necessary for the rural
population so this will decrease the natural tendency of leaving agri-
culture and gathering in the cities as is common all over the world.
Indus try
Based on the existing industry and its experience the vicinity of the
plants to the natural raw materials and the big open space which enables
future expansion are of big advantage.
This brought the idea of building industrial pks for different types
of industries and the need to improve means of transportation needed for
the transport of goods and products on one hand and the workers from
their homes on the other hand.
There is of course a need to develop new energy sources and improve and
rationalize existing ones because they are the basis for any industry.
Creating new towns and environments to attract manpower are also a con-
dition for developing the industries even if these should be based on
modern and sophisticated technologies with minimum labour but need
highly educated and skiller workers for production and maintenance.
The existing industries are based on minerals and ore as the Dead Sea
Works with a lot of chemical elements as Potash, Magnesium, Bromides,
Phosphates, etc. There is an industry for phosphoric acid and fireproof
bricks made of local clay. There is clay for the ceramic industry and
sand with quartz for glass industry. An old copper mine fTom the times
of King Solomon has been reopened and systems improved to be able to
adjust to fluctuation of copper prices on the world market.
The chemicals are used mainly for fertilizers and products for extermination
of insects which are used more and more in modern agriculture all over the
world.
Mihitary and defence industries are existing and need to be increased. There
are possibilities for other industries as textiles and foot-loose industries
which need neither to be near to the source of the raw materials nor to the
market, because the price of transport is not critical. These industries em-
ploy women and youngsters and thereby vary the sources of employment which
is important for any growing modern society. In order to compete on the
world market and itrationalize the best resource Israel has which is highly
educated open minded and innovative manpower, you have to create industries
based on science, innovations and advanced technologies. Being near a deve-
loping university is a big advantage and contributes to the connection bet-
ween Academie and Practice to get maximum added value of products for ex-
ports.
- .=--_--,----_ _.. -- __t- ----. -- ,.------- "-.-. -.1

9. - 5 -
A policy for investment and incentives to investors and workers
has to be worked out and adopted from time to time according to changing
conditions. Therefore the Negev could become the national industrial re-
gion of the country.
Transportation and cominunication
As stated in many other field transportation and communication are one
of the most important parts of infrastructure for every development.
Advanced road system in the region and to the rest of the country, to
the ports and airfields and to the neighbouring countries is essential.
Railway system especially for transport of raw materials and finished
products and goods.
Ashdod Port and may be another port in the south can be of value for
Jordan as an access to the Mediterranean. Increase of the port of Eilat
with a combination of roads could be an alternative or addition to the
Suez Canal.
Another international airport near Beer Sheva and Eilat and small in-
ternal airfields will contribute a lot to the tourism and export of
goods and agricultural products.
Water
Today most of the water needed is puinped from the north of the country
satisfying the existing consuifiption of 60 million cubic metres. This
corlsumption was only 30 million in the year 1975 - and for the year 2000
about 120 million m3 will be needed.
Increasing agriculture on a large scale could bring to the need of
another 150 million m3.
The ways to increase water supply are by trying to increase the
general resources for the country and thereby also increasing the
relative part of the Negev. But every effort should be made to find
additional local resources in the ground from groundwater which are
quite deep but have been found in Sinai by the Israelis in the layers
of nubic sand stone.
To get this water up again pumping would be needed and this goes back
to energy resources.
Purification of sewage from the national sewage disposal plant and
desalinated water from nuclear power plants seem today to be feasible
solutions.
Research has to be continued and intensified on watering systems and
technology, to decrease evaporation and waste as this has been very
successful in the past and already been implemented.
There are several plans for catch and uphold of flood waters and
storage with earth dams.
Research or possibility of salt water ponds for agriculture, for cooling
of power plants and use for solar ponds has already been started.

10. -6-
And last but not least saving of water consumption in urban use
and industry has to be brought more and more to the understanding
of people and big consuniers.
Energy
Energy is one of the most important resources Israel, unfortunately
is very poor off.
The consumption in the year of 2000 is estimated as 15 billion kwh,
a year.
There is still hoefor finding oil in deep drillings in the Negev
and may be sorne coal too. For sure there are oil shales and a rather
advanced plan for a hydroelectrical power plant using the canal bet-
ween the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.
From several alternatives checked, the most feasible is the conduit
through the Negev from Katif to Mezada. It should consist of a tunnel
of 7 kilometres from the Mediterranean to the east, 22 kilometres of
an open canal and 80 kilometres of a tunnel under the mountains of
Arad to Bokek, south of Mezada.
The difference of elevation of about 400 metres and the flow of sea
water to increase the level of the Dead Sea to the original before
taking the water of the Jordan f't1tigation by Israel and Jordan)
would enable to get about 150 Megawatt. But by storing the water
before the power plant you could get about 600 Megawatt for peak
hours which is the general output of conventional new power plants
built in Israel.
This would be about 20% of the existing consuinption in Israel today.
Solar ponds which have already been tested and found feasible may
give another 1500 Megawatt (annually). And a nuclear power plant which
could be built near the conduit using its water for cooling could give
another 900 Megawatt (annually) all in all about 300 Megawatt more
than the total today and about 50% of the consumption in the year
2000.
This project which is in the last stages of general planning would be
finished in 5 - 10 years could employ about 3000 people, many of them
engineers and other professionals and would need an investment of
about 750 million US Dollars.
This project rnight also have virtues for the landscape by creating
artificial lagoons which could be used for recreation and tourism or
nit4agriculture.
Another possibihity studied is to get energy out of seaweed growing
in salt water ponds as part of the conduit on other projects.
And again, saving of energy in rural consumption should be increased
by more sophisticated technologies and by education of the people
and the large consurners in industry.

11. -7-
Education
As mentioned before, education is one of the main factors in order
to enable quick and appropriate development. It is also necessary
to increase quality of life and develop industry. As many of the
factors which influence the plan rely on research and development
and modern technologies specific for this arid zone, it is most important
to increase the scope and profoundness of secondary education and higher
education.
The schools and institutes for higher education were quite successful in
studying the special conditions of the area and started research in many
relevant fields.
The Institute of Research of the Desert affiliated to the Beer Sheva
University and other institutions have already started not only with
theoretical research but especially with applied research and its ap-
plication in the different fields.
The scíence based industry is dependent on the university but also
contributes to its lecturers and practical research.
The interaction between practice and aéademy was quite successful and
has to be increased and advanced to ensure the infrastructure of learned
people.
One of the best ways to integrate the Arabs of the Beduin tribes and to
change their way of life voluntarily to a more modern one is by education.
The higher education in the region enables not only the inhabitants of the
Negev to study near their homes and deal with adequate studies but brings
young people from the north to uve there during their studies and many of
them fail in love with the desert or the spirit of pioneering and stay
there.
In 1973 there were 1315 students in Ben Gurion University and in 1979 4080
increasing from 3.5% to 7.3% of the students in the whole country.
The university has nearly all faculties including Engineering and Medicine
and organizes courses and programs for the youth. It is part not only of
the scientific but also of the cultural life in the Negev.
The problems of primary and secondary education have to take under con-
sideration the relative distances for the rural population and the general-
ly low basic knowledge of the children newlymigrated from different
countries.
Solutions were found for the lack of teachers, kindergarten teachers, who
if living in the area tend to change residence quite often.
Special cultural programs for children and adults as theatre, orchestra,
excursions, visits to museums, exhibitions and summer camps have to be
increased as these were very successful in the past.
There are several ínstitutfor education of techers, kindergarten
teachers and adults and those have to be increased and developed.
----- ...

12. -8-
Health
Organisation of health services was given special care in development
of the region as those are necessary because of condition and to
raise quality of life and social staridards.
The big advance in medicine this generation has to keep doctors and
equipment up to date and this can only be done in organisations large
enough to keep up this activity.
This might be easier in a new neighbourhood where you are not limited
by oid customs and habits and can start aiready with new methods and
newly trained staff.
The big distances and dispersion of population cali for special ailutions
of local day clinics and a very well organised administration.
Today there are 1280 inhabitants to each doctor and 900 to each nurse.
There are about 3 beds in hospitais for about 1000 people as is the
national average and this is quite high.
The medical school of the university is absolutely integrated in the
operational health services and this contributes to both.
Nature Preservation
Quick development has always the danger of spoiling nature and causing
pollution. As the Negev is a big museum of typical natural phenomena,
fauna and flora and special geological formation, big efforts were in-
vested in the preservation of existing features and controlled development.
The nice and interesting sites have not only to be preserved but also de-
veloped in such a way that people can enjoy them without spoiling them for
the future.
There are a lot of concentrations of historic ancient agricultural cJilt-
ures as were developed by our forefathers especially for the arid zone and
from which we can still learn.
A detailed plan for nature reserves, parks, natural zoos and restorations
of archeological and ancient sites has been one of the first detailed
plans to be drawn and applied. This had to be done parallel to all other
development in order to control interference with nature and avoid polu-
tion as much as possible.
Special care has and will be given to sewage and waste disposal and in-
dustries are forced from the beginning to take adequate precautions not
to cause damage rather than later after it has been caused to invest a
lot of funds and energy to repair it which is not always possible.
Encouraging the population, visitors and tourists to visit the sites in
an organised way and at developed places and installations, wihl help
more preservation than trying to avoid those visits which wihl turn them
to uncontrohled areas.
Touri sm
The special features of the desert and all aboye mentioned are most
attractive to tourism if adequate infrastructure and services wihl be
prepared.
¡

13. -9-
The Mediterranean sea shore, the Dead.Sea with its sulphriric and radio-
active spa and special ultra violet ations as cures for rhumatic and
skin deseases and the Red Sea with its special landscape and climate
are and will be popular tourist resorts.
The special, natural and archeological sites in the desert, the new
towns and settlements and the Beduin tribes are of special interest
to the average tourist.
In every part of the plan the aspect of tourism and tourist services
combined with other factors were taken into consideration and the
most attractive places have already been started to develop according to
more detailed plans.
In this part of the plan, the different stages, according to certain
priorities and possibilities of investment and manpower have been
described as part of the plan.
After retreat from Sinai an alternative had to be found for the desert
torts, although these are planned to continue in collaboration with
Egypt. The prices of petrol today are so high and probably will rise
even more, that there is a tendency to find alternatives in the vicinity.
Still, the plan takes into consideration development of tourist packages
with Sinai and Egypt.
De fence
Unfortunately, defence is a factor Israel cannot ignore and has to take
into consideration in any plan. In order to stay a free democratic
country we have to be strong and able to protect ourselves. We also
have learned to rely on our own army and military industry rather than
be dependent on other countries, as friendly as they might be.
The army has to grow according to the growing of the surrounding
armies and until there is final peace the petro-dollars have increased
the buying of arms by our neighbouring countries.
For the peace treaty with Egypt, Israel made many sacrifices and retreating
from Sinai caused the need to allocate new airfields, ports, camps and
maneuvre areas for the modern tanks and airplanes which need a lot of
space. To allocate those in the already inhabited Negev without spoiling
the nature was not an easy task but was part of the plan taking into con-
sideration the advantage such development could also have for the civilian
population and industry.
The new army camps and defence industry will create employment for workers
and skilled people. Permanent officers and other army staff might move to
live in the Negev if the area will be attractive enough and the services
at least as good as they are where they uve today.
Roads built will serve also all other functions and activities and in-
crease access to nature and tourist sites.
The airfields partly used by civilian flights will contribute a lot to
internal and international travel.
Every development planned and carried out by the army or the Ministry of
Defence was done with the advice and consultation and supervision of the
Nature Reserves Authority and this brought not only better solutions to
problems relating to nature preservation and avoiding of pollution, but
many times solved economic problems. Very often the "natural" is also
the easiest and cheapest solution.

14. - lo -
Connection with neighbouring countries
From the day Israel was founded it strives towards peace and cooperation
and col1boration with its neighbours. This was and will always be in
everybody's mmd and is a directive in every planning.
The peace and connections with Egypt which several years ago looked like
a dream, have come true and we hope this process will continue.
As the Negev lies between the Gaza Strip, Egypt and Jordan, we have to
consider the connection not only between Israel and the neighbouring
countries but also as the natural bridge for them among themselves.
The roads and even the streets in a city like Eilat have been planned to
be connected to the existing or planned roads in neighbouring countries.
The ports were designed in such a way that they could serve Jordan as a
gate to the Mediterranean.
The Dead Sea Works and the Canal between the Mediterranean and the Dead
Sea were planned not to interfere with other plans under construction.
Connections with Sinai for joint tourist projects and packages, and com-
bined nature and scientific research were incorporated in the plan.
Operation and follow-up
Although an interdisciplinary executive body should have been set up to
carry out the plan, coordinate and incorporate it in the general plans
and budgets of the ministries and agencies, this has not yet been done.
The plan has the influence of being a guideline to otherplans but it
is not yet operational enough.
The idea was to set up an operational body which has the jurisdiction,
power and funds to execute the plan, carry out the policies on a concen-
trated basis in the name of the government and all local and other
agencies involved.
The funds ahlocated for development should have been budgeted through
this body and spent according to decided priorities and the stages of
the plan.
This body should put up an organization which will do the follow up of
the plan and adjust it permanently according to the change of conditions
and pohicies and the conclusions drawn from experience during execution.
A rather flexible model for operation should be worked out in order to
follow the plan as a whole but make local adaptation if possible. This,
assuming that the plan will be worked out in a more detailed manner as a
inechanism which will show the relations between the different factors
and their sensitivity.
Today, the coordination, supervision of detailed planning and follow up
are the responsibihity of the Ministry of Interior which is generahly
responsible for physical planning in the country.
But in spite of this, there are already several big operations on the
national basis which are under execution, as the building of new army
and air force installations, nature reserves and tourist resort developments,
and development of Industry.

15. - 11 -
All the more detailed plans were based on thestei plan and the
recommendations which were included in it and are also executed in
respect and full cooperation with many other agencies which was not
the case in other areas in the past..
As mentioned before, the military installations were planned and are
carried out in consultation and supervision of the Nature Reserves
Authority and this has given very good results.
The next big project will le the canal (conduit) between the Mediter-
ranean and the Dead Sea and from the firt signs, it seems this will
also be planned and carried out in fuhi correlation with the plan and
cooperation of all the parties involved, to get optional additional
advantages besides its main aim.
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