The number of tourists overnights at hotels was 32% higher in the first half of 2008, compared with the first half of 2007, the Israel Hotel Association reports. On the other hand, hotel overnights by Israelis fell 7%. The Hotel Association attributes the decline to the shekel's appreciation against other currencies, which prompted many people to take vacations abroad, including the popular destination of Turkey.
The Hotel Association notes an especially large jump in the number of day tourists who are staying in neighboring countries and making side trips to visit holy sites in Israel.
Hotel Association director general Shmuel Zurel predicts that 400,000 day tourists will visit Israel this year, 200% more than in 2007. He warned that this trend should alarm decision-makers, because day tourists put considerable pressure on tourist sites while making only a negligible contribution to the national economy. A regular tourist contributes $1,550 to the economy, while a day tourist contributes $150.
The Hotel Association says that there were 10 million hotel overnights in the first half of 2008, 10% more than in the first half of last year. 5.1 million overnights were by tourists and 4.9 million by Israelis.
Hotel overnights in Tel Aviv were up 19% compared with last year. The largest growth in hotel overnights was in Tiberias, up 67% compared with last year.
The average nationwide room occupancy rate was 65% in the first half, 13% higher than last year. Tel Aviv had the highest room occupancy rate at 77%, followed by Jerusalem at 74%, and Eilat at 60%.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 24, 2008
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