Tel Aviv Hostels Benefit From Recession

Israel News Agency / Google News ^ | November 25, 2008 | Herb Brandon

[IsraelBeach]

Tel Aviv Youth Hostels Benefit From Recession, Increased Tourism

By Herb Brandon
Israel News Agency

Tel Aviv --- November 25, 2008...... They come from thousands of miles away. Crossing every continent from New York, Montreal, Toronto and Los Angles to London, Paris, Amsterdam and Tokyo to relax on the palm tree lined, white beaches of Tel Aviv. Tourists and backpackers come to stroll through the magic, the colorful culture and warm history of Israel and the holy land.

Tourists have been traveling to and from the exotic Middle-East in herds since the creation of the airplane. Visiting such Christian and Jewish holy places as Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Sea of Sea of Galilee, Tiberius, the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Church of the Nativity and Masada. But knowing where to stay can make or break a holiday in Israel.

"Tel Aviv has several youth hostels but lacked the service that North Americans and those from Europe are used too," says Giora Slama of the Tel Aviv youth hostel Gordon Inn. "I have owned and operated restaurants in Israel for several years and always heard a few complaining about the status of our youth hostels, so I decided to buy the largest in Tel Aviv and turn it into a shining example of what a youth hostel should be. Clean, cheap, friendly and close to the beach, restaurants and the many attractions of Tel Aviv."

Giora is smiling. He is enjoying an historic number of guests to his youth hostel in Tel Aviv as many are seeking prices less than what can be found in expensive hotels as a recession grips the world economy. In fact, last month some 300,000 tourists visited Israel, an increase of roughly 36 percent, as compared to October 2007. November had also been an excellent month and projections are that December will continue to witness an increase in tourism. The Israel Central Bureau of Statistics states that the year will end with more than 3 million tourists, an all-time record."

"The Israel Ministry of Tourism has performed an excellent job in selling Israel and increasing tourism," says Slama. They have taken away the image of terrorism and replaced it with smiles, parties, dancing and singing on the Tel Aviv beach using YouTube videos and Internet viral marketing to reach millions worldwide."

Those working in the Israel tourism industry are not yet feeling the effect of the global economic crisis, since the economic slowdown concurs with the usual slowdown in the travel industry at the beginning of winter, a time of fewer charter flights. In October, the month of the Jewish holidays, some 400,000 people went abroad from Israel, an increase of 3 percent compared to October 2007. Officials at the Israel Travel Agents Association are expecting a possible drop of a few percentage points in departures in 2009, in the wake of the expected decrease in travelers' expenditures. But Youth Hostels worldwide and in Tel Aviv are expected to enjoy a gain.

"Although August and December are peak months for youth hostels in Tel Aviv, we suggest that anyone traveling to Tel Aviv make reservations. For Christmas we and almost all other youth hostels are almost full, so don't delay and reserve your rooms."

The tourist pilgrimage to Bethlehem for Christmas in Israel and Jerusalem has always been heavy one. But today with a dramatic decrease in Islamic violence, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and all cities in Israel are now benefiting.

"The extremists who believe in violence as a means to get when they want have lost their Islamic Holy War in this part of the world," say Slama. They have realized that after several terror attacks we living in Israel are not packing up and running away. This is our home. We have increased security and now many want to bolster the West Bank economy with investment. Our Palestinian neighbors realize that life is better with bread and butter rather than bullets and bombs. And once we have a real peace partner to negotiate with, the Palestinians will obtain what they want and we here in Israel will be placing their Youth Hostel brochures on our front desks."

Tourism is doing so well in Israel that over 55,000 people came to Israel for just one day in 2008, an increase of 80 percent compared to the year before.

Most of the one-day visitors were citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Chechnya. Most entered Israel from Egypt, stopping off in Eilat for several hours before returning to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. In addition, 5,400 tourists arrived in Israel via a direct flight to Eilat - an increase of 32 percent from 2007.

And the tourist forecast only gets better for Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The United States - based airline company Delta Airlines plans to increase the number of flights on its New York -Tel Aviv route, Israel Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham said. Delta renewed its flights to Israel in 2006 after years without Delta flights to and from Tel Aviv.

Delta Airlines will add four flights a week between New York and Tel Aviv for a total of 4,000 additional seats each month. The new flights will begin in the summer of 2009.

"Delta's decision is an important expression of faith in Israel's tourism industry,” Avraham said. The Israel Tourism Ministry will continue its efforts to promote tourism from North America and elsewhere, she added.

The Gordon Inn Tel Aviv Youth Hostel is much like other youth hostels in Tel Aviv and abroad with separate dormitories for men and women, as well as private rooms for their guests. From the roof this Tel Aviv youth hostel one can see the waves of the Mediterranean sea roll onto the Tel Aviv beach. The Gordon Inn Youth Hostel is located in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel close to all the popular tourist destinations: large variety of famous restaurants, pubs, bars, museums, which are all in walking distance from the hostel. Only a five minute walk to the beach, boardwalk and the famous Tel Aviv port ("Namal").

Youth Hostels provide budget-oriented accommodation where guests can rent a bed, sometimes a bunk bed in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available. Hostels are generally cheaper for both the operator and the occupant; many hostels employ their long-term residents as desk clerks or housekeeping staff in exchange for free accommodation.

The independent hostel industry is growing rapidly in many cities around the world, such as New York, Rome, and Miami. This is reflected in the development and expansion of dozens of hostel chains worldwide. The recent eruption in independent youth hostels has been called, "the single biggest news in the world of low-cost travel".

The development of independent backpackers hostels is a strong business model, with some cities reporting a higher average income per room for hostels than hotels. For example, in the city of Honolulu, Hawaii, upscale hotels are reportedly making $141 to $173 per room, while hostel rooms in the same city can bring in as much as $200 per night. Prices at the Tel Aviv Youth Hostel begin at 40 USD per night, with private rooms costing only 80 USD.

Youth hostels in Tel Aviv have become a favorite starting point for global travelers or backpackers who have just arrived at Israel Ben-Gurion airport.

Slama, like many in Israel, takes great pride in having survived bad economic times. And with a global recession now impacting those in Chicago, Rome, Berlin and Beijing, staying at a clean and inexpensive youth hostel which offers bed and breakfast in Tel Aviv is becoming a more attractive option for a winter or summer vacation with each passing day.

"Tourists coming to Tel Aviv, Israel can expect today to get more for their money while enjoying quality service which is as good as if not better than New York, Manchester or Madrid," says Slama. "And we have the best beaches in the world with everyone wearing t-shirts and shorts on warm, sunny days in December. Bring your suntan lotion!"