It's no secret that space in Tel Aviv hotels will be tight when May rolls around, and thousands of tourists pour into the city for the Eurovision Song Contest, Trend reports referring to The Jerusalem Post.
The Tel Aviv municipality has been looking for innovative solutions for the influx of visitors, including renting a cruise ship to dock along the coast.
This week, the municipality approved yet another surprising solution: the creation of a campsite in the heart of the city's Hayarkon Park. According to the city, the campsite will be able to host up to 2,000 tourists for the week of the contest, from May 14 to 18. The park grounds are just a short walk away from the Expo Tel Aviv site which is hosting the competition.
"The 'Tent City' is just one example of the many initiatives we are working on, in order to create the perfect tourist experience and make sure that visitors can enjoy everything that the city has to offer," said Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai in a statement. "Tourists staying at the camping ground in 'The Central Park of Tel Aviv' will benefit from affordable accommodation and will be able to enjoy the Eurovision vibe just steps away from Expo Tel Aviv."
The municipality said it will offer three levels of accommodations: basic camping (with rental equipment available); "glamping," a more luxurious experience, and "luxury caravans," equipped with bathrooms and air conditioning.
While intrepid campers shouldn't have to worry about rain - a rare May occurrence in Tel Aviv - they might be concerned by the heat, which can rise above 85 F on the warmest days.
Hopefully for the municipality, the site won't be reminiscent of the widespread 2011 tent city social protests, which were set up to rally against the high cost of living.