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The Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav said that he anticipates that by 2013 the number of hotel rooms in the city will have increased from 1,600 to about 3,000.   Yahav made these comments at a press conference inaugurating the new Colony Hotel, located in the German Colony district of the city.

The Mayor of Haifa commented on the number of hotel projects, some of which are under review for approval by the municipality and revealed that the aim is to reshape Haifa’s image and change it into a leading tourist resort.

Yahav stressed that 2010 was a significant one for the city, with 3 major events taking place.  First, by the end of next year work on the Carmel Tunnel is expected to be completed and the tunnel opened. This is expected to dramatically improve access to the city and reduce traffic congestion.  However before this project is completed Haifa will be on the world sporting tourism map as it hosts the 2010 European Mountain Bike Championship.  No less important for this maritime city is the decision of the International Sailing Organization to hold the World Championship for the 420 Class in Haifa.

Besides the preparation for these major projects, the municipality is initiating a project to convert a large section of the lower part of the city into “the Boston of Israel”.  The focus is to make it an international academic center of learning. Amongst other things, the activities of about 10 institutions, including an extension of Brandeis University of  Boston, which will absorb some 3,500 students who will live in residences close to their place of learning.

Yahav also commented on the large number conferences being held in the city, the development of the beach including additional promenades, a wide range of family attractions and exhibitions attracting large crowds to the city, such as the controversial “Body Works” exhibition.  This diversity helping to contribute to an increasing number of visitors to the city, that has led to the interest of entrepreneurs to open up 3 boutique hotels in the city during the past year. There is a plan to convert the old Egged bus site in the lower part of the city into a 269 room hotel, suited to vacations; this is expected to open in 2010.

During the meeting, Yahav said that he expected an increase in the number of hotel nights from both Israelis and Russian tourists.  “Haifa also has the potential to become an international center for medical tourism with development already at an advanced stage”

According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of hotel nights in the city during 2008 increased by about 6 percent to approximately 540,000. Half of this total being for Israeli guests, the other half for foreign tourists.  According to Moshe Zurich, head of the Haifa Tourist Board, hotel occupancy for 2008 was 67 percent; considerably higher than the national average.  He also reported that in the first quarter of 2009 the occupancy rate was good compared to the nationwide average.