Knights Hostel Opens in Acre (Akko)

Photo Credits: Studio ElAram

A new youth hostel was opened last week in the northern Israel coastal city of Acre (Akko), an ancient and alluring city that was chosen by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

Israel has been busy meeting the strong demand for more accommodations as tourism continues to increase. The 60-million shekel Knights Hostel project was funded by several government agencies including the Tourism Ministry, Finance Ministry, Education Ministry as well as the Youth Hostel Association.

The hostel includes 80 rooms, classrooms, banquet halls, a cafeteria and a balcony with views of the Old City of Acre. An ancient aqueduct in the hostel was remodeled, depicting the ancient way water was gathered and distributed to the public.

The effort was part of a larger project aimed at constructing and remodeling youth hostels around the country, expected to be complete in 2014. There are currently 1,200 rooms in 26 youth hostels throughout the country, according to the Tourism Ministry.

"The rise in tourism over the last few years, a trend the Ministry of Tourism hopes to continue, requires the addition of thousands of rooms at various levels of accommodation, especially in locations where demand is high – Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and areas surrounding the Sea of Galilee,” said Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov. “Acre, which was chosen by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is one of the world’s unique cities, with a rich history, culture, religion and colors that can be found in very few places around the globe. I invite the public to enjoy one of the most impressive hostels in Israel."