All the news about Israeli tourism

Shabtay Shai estimates the beginning of the competition over the Eilat skies: “El Al’s real test will be to fit its new timetable to its incoming flights to Israel and not its competition with Arkia and Israir to win over Israeli hearts.”

 “Tourists wanting to come from overseas to Eilat via Ben Gurion Airport have been forced to deal with an inefficient service,” this was how Shabtay Shai, chairman of the Eilat Hotels Association explained in a conversation with the Educational web site. “We supported El Al’s struggle to obtain permission to fly to Eilat, because of our belief that it will make their product much more attractive.”

The Eilat Hotels Association, as well as members of the tourist industry in the city expressed their full support of the decision of the civil aviation authority to appoint El Al as a carrier on the route between Ben Gurion Airport and Eilat, with the hope that this step will lead to the growth in the number of tourists visiting during the quieter seasons.  In the summer explained Shai, Eilat is full, mostly with Israelis and there will be no significant advantage at this period for El Al.

But El Al’s fight, according to Shai, is just starting. “The real battle against Israir and Arkia will be over landing slots at the airport in Eilat, because the other two airlines will not easily relinquish their right to fly at the most convenient times of the day.”

 “We are talking about a very tough battle, because the best slots have already been taken by the other two airlines,” warned the chairman of the Eilat Hotels Association.

Shai feels, like the other hoteliers in Eilat that for now the burden of proof for El Al will be to promote incoming tourism to the city as they promised and to establish a timetable that will be integrated with onward flights to Eilat.  What is your test?  “The test of the hoteliers will be to study the new situation and think of new ways to lower the price of holiday in order to encourage tourism to the city.”

The tourist is reducing his stay? A campaign will deal with this.

The chairman of the Israel Hotels Association, Eli Gonen, is of the opinion that the civil aviation authority reached the correct decision.  In an announcement on behalf of the Association, he praised the authority for the steps taken to allow El Al to fly to Eilat and also to allow its Israeli competitors to fly to overseas destinations.

 “We take a united stand.  We favor any move that will open up competition and bring more tourists to Israel,” remarked Gonen.

In response to the conclusions of the Association, that tourists arriving in Israel are forced despite the effects of the recession, to shorten the length of their stay in the country, he explained “There is not much to discuss, it is a national task requiring a joint marketing effort from the Ministry of Tourism and the private sector.”

 “The phenomenon has gained momentum because of the recession and the fact that some tourists also chose also to visit Palestinian towns and cities during their visit to Israel,” added Gonen.  Is competition with them too difficult? “We are in favor of competition.  The aim is to reach new populations by new methods and this requires a specific campaign.”