TOURISM MINISTRY TO INVEST NIS 29 MILLION IN UPGRADING, EXPANDING AND CONVERTING YOUTH HOSTELS IN ISRAEL FOR TOURISTS USE.

TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV: ‘TODAY, GIVEN THE MINISTRY’S TARGET OF 5 MILLION TOURISTS BY 2015 AND WITH THE GROWING DEMAND, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE UTILIZE THE EXISTING SUPPLY, WHILE ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURS TO BUILD NEW HOTELS”

The Tourism Ministry will invest NIS 29 million in the coming years in upgrading, expanding and converting nine youth hostels around the country for tourists’ use, in order to answer the shortage of available hotel rooms and to provide a wider choice of overnight accommodation options. The NIS 144.5 million project will be implemented with the cooperation of the Youth Hostels Association, the Education Ministry and the Jewish Agency. Within the framework of the project, the youth hostels at Masada, Beit Shean, Haifa, Mitzpe Ramon, Safed, Poriya and Tel Hai, will be improved and expanded. Two other youth hostels in Acre and Poriya, built in accordance with the multi-year plan, will be opened to the public in May and June.

The Tourism Ministry’s target of 4 million tourists by the end of this year and 5 million by 2015 requires the addition of another 15,000 rooms, particularly in the areas of demand such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Sea of Galilee area. In response to the shortage of rooms, the Investments Administration in the Tourism Ministry has created several tracks to assist the entrepreneur within the framework of the Law to Encourage Capital Investment, which allows for grants and financial assistance for the construction of new hotels throughout Israel and with priority given to Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee area.

In 2010, the Tourism Ministry approved grants for hotel investment to the value of about NIS 248 million and in 2011-2012 the overall budget is expected to reach NIS 400 million. 7,431 new rooms are expected to open in 2011-2012, and an additional 6,801 in 2013. In addition, the Tourism Ministry will open a special track within the next few weeks designed to encourage the conversion and expansion of rooms in existing hotels, with the objective of either returning these rooms to their original use as guestrooms and/or upgrading them. As already stated, the youth hostel project will also help alleviate the shortage of hotel rooms.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “The Tourism Ministry is working to expand the existing supply of hotel accommodation by upgrading rooms and offering a wider choice of room types, be it for the domestic or foreign tourist. Today, given the ministry’s target of 5 million tourists by 2015 and with the growing demand, it is essential that we utilize the existing supply, while encouraging entrepreneurs to build new hotels.”

(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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March 9, 2011

TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV:

“GIVEN THE GEO-POLITICAL SITUATION AND THE BLOW TO THE REGION’S IMAGE, THE TOURISM MINISTRY IS NEXT WEEK LAUNCHING A SERIES OF CAMPAIGNS WORTH NIS 45 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN ISRAEL’S IMAGE AS A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE AND ATTRACTIVE TOURISM DESTINATION”

220,000 TOURISTS VISITED ISRAEL IN FEBRUARY:

A 10%  INCREASE ON LAST YEAR OF TOURISTS STAYING MORE THAN ONE NIGHT, AS OPPOSED TO 83% DECREASE IN ONE-DAY VISITORS TRAVELING VIA LAND CROSSINGS (DUE TO SITUATION IN EGYPT). IN TOTAL, 466,000 TOURISTS VISITED IN JAN-FEB, 7% MORE THAN SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR

The Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov who this morning (3.9.11) opened the Israeli stand at ITB in Germany, the world’s largest tourism fair, said that Israel could be adversely affected by the regional geo-political situation in terms of tourism to the region and to Israel. “Next week, the Tourism Ministry is launching a series of campaigns worth NIS 45 million in target countries around the world in order to differentiate Israel’s image from the other countries in the region and strengthen it as a safe, accessible and attractive tourism destination.”

According to data released today by the Central Bureau of Statistics, about 220,000 tourists visited Israel in February, 2% less than February 2010. An increase of 10% on February 2010 was registered in tourists staying more than one night and an increase of 2% for cruise tourism, with 13,000 arriving by sea. Nonetheless, as a result of the events in Egypt, entries for visitors through the land crossings dived by 83% on February 2010 with just 5,000 entries. Another 2,600 one-day visitors arrived by air (24% increase). 466,000 tourists visited Israel in the two month period Jan-Feb 2011, 7% more than same period last year and an increase of 13% for tourists staying more than one night (388,000).

A series of focused advertising campaigns will begin next week, running for several months in target countries for incoming tourism. Increased marketing activities will take place, among others, in the USA, Russia, Germany, UK and Scandinavia. Campaigns targeted to the Jewish audience in France, who normally vacation during the summer in North Africa, will also run in order to position Israel as an alternative destination to these countries.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “The regional crisis represents a challenge and an opportunity for tourism to Israel. We will work through all the marketing channels with a variety of activities in order to position Israel as an alternative destination for those tourists who, until now, would take their vacations in other countries in the region. The Tourism Ministry representatives, working in 17 offices around the world, will expand their activities with local tourism industry representatives in order to increase traffic into Israel. Activities that have already taken place over the last few weeks in Russia and the Ukraine have proven that Israel is seen as an alternative for tourists wishing to travel to the Middle East region."

(Courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism)