The Israel Hotel Association reports that there were 18% fewer hotel overnights in January 2009, compared with January 2008. During the month, hotels within a 40-kilometer radius of the Gaza Strip, including in Ashkelon and Beersheva, were occupied only by media people and security personnel, during Operation Cast Lead.
Hotel overnights in Herzliya totaled 6,000 in January, down 51% from a year earlier, the steepest decline. Hotel overnights fell 42% in Haifa to 12,000, and fell 34% in Tel Aviv to about 100,000.
Hotel overnights at kibbutz guesthouses totaled 30,000 in January, down 28% from January last year. Hotel overnights in Jerusalem fell 19% to 197,000, and they fell by 4% in Eilat to 75,000.
The average room occupancy rate was 44% in January, 17% less than in January last year.
Hotel Association director general Shmuel Zuriel said that the industry was able to maintain its growth momentum until the end of last year, but that the fighting in Gaza reversed the trend. "Regrettably, the downward trend in tourism will continue through the coming months. We need an aggressive marketing campaign in target countries to attract tourists to Israel," he said.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 24, 2009
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