Run by amateurs,surviving by luck and the grace of G-d.Typical to find tourism workers at the Airport who know no foreign language,but speaking russian is not a problem in Israel.They are all bloody russians.People who speak proper english like wot I do are thin on the ground.And prices(hotels) need to be competitive,it is a big world out there.Qualifications not needed,language skills not necessary PROTECKSIA.

Business.

As a person who has traveled extensively around the world, I totally agree with the tourism minister. Israel has a lot to offer, but is absurdly user unfriendly. Absolutely no consideration for people. Makes people mad, costs too much, and Israeli's are so rude and petty, that we shoot ourselves in the foot with foreigners. Hope the minister get's traction with his ideas for improvement.

Ben Gurion and other tourism-related employees speak at least one international language - generally English - which all tourists should as well. Your incessant arrogant whining onand steamrolling behalf of your countrymen - who make up just one portion of all of Israel's tourists - is the worst marketing we can have.

Security checks we really need the questions are pathetic sometimes.Lack of mannerism service missiles another story

$275 for a double room in Jerusalem, in November is absurd. I can stay at a far superior hotel in LA for half that amount

No one, but the apartheid regime in Palestina can give it a try.

Wow, you examplify all the qualities that you accuse Mesezhnikov of! And as a service provider, Israel most definitely cannot tell tourists (its clients) to learn English or any other language. There are many Russian-, Spanish-, and French-speaking tourists who will disagree with the egocentrism of Americans. The problem with rudeness and lack of professionalism is a general Israeli problem, stemming from the approach to child-rearing (spoil them as much as you can) and horrible secondary education (no respect given to teachers). Things will not change in one day, but they certainly will.

First get off the drugs and then answer . People may think that you are stupid.

rather that Stas & his Soviet cronies need to stop their relentless focus on Russians and attempt to turn Israel into a Soviet republic. Yes, we have tourists from there, but his focus is ONLY on them. Past tourism ministers have not been such slaves to this pro-Soviet tunnel vision that is suffocating Israel.

Eilat is an amazing natural resource, yet is is marketed with no unique flavor or scent.

You already lost ability to see reality under Sharia ruling in your town: http://vodpod.com/watch/1428923-sweden-in-grip-of-islam

As an American now living in Israel, I can't tell you how many times I've had some idiot local putting down America and calling Americans stupid, lazy, spoiled, rich (in a bad way, if this makes sense). I am sure the problem of insulting foreigners doesn't just include Americans but probably also people from other countries as well. If I were a tourist without any personal bond to the country, then I would have trouble seeing myself returning. It also doesn't help that the hotels are dumps and ridiculously over-priced (same goes for most restaurants) or that too many people here, thinking of themselves as super clever, try to cheat foreigners out of money. Israel(is) should stop taking foreigners, including foreign Jews, for granted.

I live here buddy,hizbollah rockets and all so spare me the lectures you arrogant moron.

Israelis are rude, rude, rude....did i mentioned RUDE already ? Diaspora Jews are so much nicer.

An American according to your english and a foul mouthed lout at that.

The apartheid Palestinian Authority that you speak of can't market a thing. Their only product is terrorism. And pick-pocketing EU sucker taxpayers like you to the tune of billions of Euros.

I visited Israel by myself for two weeks in October. I was usually the only tourist on the city buses and the train. The Israelis helped me every step of the way. I will forever remember the beautiful young woman in the ticket office at the Mann Auditorium. I asked for the cheapest ticket for the Israel Philharmonic concert and she promised to give me the best she could find. Did she ever! Directly in the sight-line of Zubin Mehta and with the ability to see the keyboard...The taxi driver, with two children in Houston, who rushed me on to the sherut so I would secure the last seat from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv...The bus drivers who never failed to alert me to my stops...The young female soldier who helped push my luggage out of the sherut in the middle of Tel Aviv...The amazing conversation with Mr. Blum in his studio...Of course, there is so much more: the wealth of culture in that small sliver of land, the historic and religious sites, the spectacular views. But you always remember the personal encounters. The Israelis were extraordinarily generous to me. I will never forget my first trip to this incredible country.

Hotel rooms in Israel are severely overpriced. Minimum of $200 an night for a mediocre, shabby, undersized room. If you want to attract a steady stream of tourists, you need more value priced hotel options. I'd like to see budget American chains like Comfort Suites open properties throughout Israel.

Right on. But how to fix it?

Between the radical Islamists and anarchists, your city is occupied and and no longer by Swedes.

#10 is envy of you because you have charm and he is an idiot.

It's good that the minister has woken up to the problems of tourism in Israel. I walked into a tourism office in Jerusalem and was treated like something the cat had brought in. On the other hand, although I've been through detailed security checks at Ben Gurion, I've mostly met with courtesy there.