'In order for Israel to increase its number of tourists, it must attract common people'
Photo: Danny Sadeh
Tourism Ministry advancing 3-star hotels
New plan aims to change Israel's image as an expensive country for tourists.
The Tourism Ministry is working on a plan for the construction of three-star hotels in a bid to change Israel's image as an expensive country
compared to many other countries it competes with over similar tourism segments.
Landau added that "one of Israel's problems is the hotel mix. In Tel Aviv, for example, hotels target a business audience and a super-exclusive audience. In order for Israel to increase its number of tourists, it must attract common people.
"We want to reach a situation in which it will be worthwhile for entrepreneurs to build popular hotels in Israel in several places at the same time," said Tourism Minister Uzi Landau. "The plan is to have about five three-star hotels in each compound, and that way we may reach a situation in which entrepreneurs will want and be able to invest in hotels here."
Tough Challenge
Danny Sadeh
While other countries have recorded impressive growth in incoming tourism in past 14 years, Israel is finding it difficult to attract visitors for more than a one-day stopover.
"It's not enough to open the skies and bring low-cost companies here. We must provide those arriving on the cheaper flights with hotels which meet their budget. That doesn’t mean abandoning the business and luxury market, but the plan is to expand to a more common audience too."
According to Landau, one of the advantages of inexpensive tourism is that it would spread out to the periphery and offer a great economic contribution to places in need of employment.
"Just like we are working to expand camping and caravan vacations, we want to have inexpensive resort villages here," the minister said.
