The government approved the advancement of planning for a new cable car that will connect Nof Hagalil to Mount Tabor - a move that could change the map of tourism and accessibility in the north, and make one of the most historic and visited sites in Israel more accessible than ever.
The initiative, led by the Tourism Ministries and Transport and Road Safety, is intended to combine an innovative transportation solution with large-scale tourism development in the Lower Galilee region. According to the decision, a cable car will be built departing from the area of Kfar Tavor and will connect Nazareth, Nof Hagalil, and Mount Tabor, including an intermediate station in the village of Shibli.
This is an ambitious infrastructure project aimed at addressing one of the well-known issues in the area: Traffic congestion and limited accessibility to the summit of Mount Tabor, one of Israel’s most prominent tourism and heritage sites.
In the first phase, approximately NIS 4M will be allocated for planning and economic feasibility studies, which are expected to take about a year. This follows a previous investment of about NIS 1M in initial project planning. According to the plan, the cable car will offer a tourist travel experience that includes aerial scenic views, and will significantly improve connectivity between tourism hubs in the area.
A Tourist Destination with Accessibility Challenges
Mount Tabor is considered one of the most important sites in Israel, both historically and in religious and tourism terms, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year from Israel and around the world. Alongside its central status, the complex access to the summit and the narrow roads leading to it often detract from the visitor experience.
The planned cable car is expected to offer a direct, convenient, and more accessible alternative - turning the visit into part of a broader regional tourism experience.
Tourism Minister Haim Katz said that this is a significant step in strengthening tourism in the north: “We are turning the area into a modern attraction hub that combines a unique tourism experience with accessible transportation solutions. This is a step that will strengthen heritage assets and contribute to economic activity in the region.”
Transport Minister Miri Regev added that the project aligns with a vision to strengthen the periphery: “This is a connection between heritage, nature, and advanced transportation, which will enable better access to tourist sites and strengthen the north.”
Officials in the Tourism and Transport Ministries define the project as a strategic move aimed at creating a new link between transportation infrastructure and tourism development, while maximizing the potential of one of the most significant regions in Israel.