Tourism Ministry Director-General Noaz Bar Nir: “An increase in the supply of hotel rooms will directly contribute to reducing the cost of vacationing in Israel, in line with the reforms spearheaded by the Tourism Ministry in order to increase incoming tourism. The Tourism Ministry is making significant efforts to encourage the construction of new hotels within the framework of the Law to Encourage Capital Investment and investors are expressing their confidence in the expected growth in this industry. Nonetheless, Israel’s unique position, including the geopolitical environs and the low return on hotel investment in Israel, obligates us to offer grants for assistance in hotel construction.”

The Investment Administration in the Tourism Ministry received 32 requests for the construction and expansion of hotels throughout Israel – a total of more than 3,000 rooms and an overall investment of 2.5 billion NIS. These included 2 hotels in Carmiel (172 rooms) – one C grade, 100 room hotel with an investment of about 50 million NIS and another A grade, 72 room hotel with an investment of more than 66 million NIS.

Other requests related to hotels in Eilat, Haifa, Jerusalem, Tiveria, Beersheva and Netanya, with the total investment required from the Tourism Ministry of about 550 million NIS. The Investment Administration received four requests for hotel construction and one for hotel expansion in Jerusalem, totaling more than 710 million NIS in grants for an additional 844 rooms. The requests will be discussed and approved with the approval of the new government budget.

Most of the Tourism Ministry’s assistance to entrepreneurs and investors in the hotel industry is carried out via grants within the framework of the Law to Encourage Capital Investment and in line with the national priority area map for tourism. As a result, the ministry approves grants of up to 20% of the investment, whereas in Jerusalem and Tiveria this grant can be as high as 28%.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)