Opinion
Tourists will choose PA
Yossi Fischer
Published: 08.05.13, 20:11
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1. stupid plan!
tiki ,   belgium   (05.08.13)
Tourists look to the price. If a country is to expensive, they won't come and the treasury will lose what they hoped to win & more. Israel will lose chance to present itself to the world. It's that simple!
2. I've stayed in both areas
David ,   San Diego   (05.08.13)
I've stayed in a number of hotels in Israel and the PA. To be perfectly honest, you get a much better value at hotels in the PA than in Israel. The Intercontinental in Bethlehem and the Moevenpick Hotel and Gran Park Hotel in Ramallah are actually examples for Israel. They are modern, clean, and most of all, both the service and value are excellent. I'd rather pay $150 US a night and stay in these establishments in the PA than pay $300 a night for similar experience(not even as good) inside of Israel. Anyone who has stayed in both areas will confirm what I am say.
3. Too expensive
Dennis ,   NJ USA   (05.08.13)
I always believed israel to be a very expensive destination.I can spend two weeks in Paris for a lot less than two weeks in Israel. Have a trip planned for this July, where my budget for two weeks is around $10,000, including flights from USA, hotels for 2 weeks, car rental, and meals. If I have to add 18% to the land portion, then the already expensive prices get to the outrageous. I alwways scoff at those citites where they slap a huge tax on Hotel rooms, only to get funds to... promote tourism! Absurd, no? best way to promote tourism is to provide reasonably priced accommodations with a reeasonable level of comfort, in downtown areas.
4. PA is fictional. Judea and Samaria ARE Israel.
Chaim ,   Israel   (05.08.13)
There is no choice between Judea and Samaria and Israel. Judea and Samaria ARE Israel. We simply need to end the sick charade of Fictional Palestine.
5. Bad for Isael
Eyal ,   USA Israel   (05.08.13)
Israel is already too expensive. Cheapest 3 stars in Jerusalem costs over $200. If you add VAT to the charges, consider cutting tourism by 75%. Very bad idea.
6. As if the hotels aren't expensive enough already...
(05.08.13)
I'd be in Israel more often if it weren't for the already so high prices.
7. #2 You paid what...?
Alex   (05.08.13)
$150/night for a hotel in the PA?! You've been seriously ripped off, in Egypt that kind of many would buy you a stay in a palace, seriously. I wouldn't pay more than $10/night if I'd ever stay the night in PA (not that I ever would stay overnight in that dump, but still...).
8. #7
John ,   Jerusalem   (05.09.13)
Alex your post just shows your ignorance and your racist attitude
9. # 4 CHAIM, AMEN TO THAT CHAIM!!!!
BUILD BABY BUILD !!! ,   United States   (05.09.13)
ANNEX AND KEEP BUILDING !!!!!
10. # 4 CHAIM, AMEN TO THAT CHAIM!!!!
BUILD BABY BUILD !!! ,   United States   (05.09.13)
ANNEX AND KEEP BUILDING !!!!!
11. to alex
tourist ,   europe   (05.09.13)
The hotels mentioned above are high quality equal to those or even better than those in Israel, the service and attitude towards customers is way better. Only those who used both can judge. No need for such racist attitudes
12. Tourists
Get Real ,   UK   (05.09.13)
they will go to Jordan, Turkey,Cyprus and to even more dangerous Egypt and those on cruise ships will spend less in Israel or not book at all.
13. @alex
David ,   San Diego   (05.09.13)
Your last comment shows you are too ignorant to comment on this topic. The hotel's I mentioned are of high quality, but unlike high quality in Israel, are affordable with great service/hospitality. And ramallah really isn't a bad place for tourism. It's not tel aviv but I find it to be more liberal and exciting than Jerusalem. Not a bad place to eat, drink, or meet people.
14. It is absurd to think that you are developing the tourist..
lucifer69   (05.09.13)
industry by slapping 18% vat. We need to compete with the region and reducing price would considerably increase tourism here. Otherwise, prepare to have less tourists. They will go to greece, cyprus, egeypt and to the p.a.. Show how smart you are. Yossi, you are spot on.
15. Tourism tax
Nothing wrong ,   Thornhill, Canada   (05.09.13)
Is Mr. Lapid that wrong ? Contrary to what I am reading and the commentary, there are many countries where tourist must pay the VAT ( i.e. Costa Rica) then I believe that people will still come and stay in Israel. The country is unique ! How can you compare a stay in Bethlehem or Ramallah to a stay in Jerusalem. Where will they stay when visiting Tiberias ? and Acre ? Be real ! Maybe the prices charged by the hotels, the tour guides etc.., should be lowered to make up for the increase ; a portion of the VAT should be used to the promotion of Israel. The Israeli Tourist Offices around the world are doing a very fine job. They help local operators and entice them to promote Israel. They ae always ready to assist in meeting, presentations , advertising, brochures etc.. The commercial entities Mr. Fisher is talking about, do not spend one cent in assisting foreign tour operators in the promotion of the country. Their operation is subsided by money coming from the different regions in their country instead of the central government : same pocket, different way So Mr. Fisher , a bit less demagoguery....
16. VAT on Tourism.
Ralph ,   Rishon Le Zion   (05.09.13)
Once the number of tourists whose use the services in Israel starts going down, the whole tourist industry will realise just what idiots sit in the Ministry of Finance. The only way to increase income from tourism is to take the best advantage of the new Open Skies Agreement, and lower hotel and other tourist services prices, and more tourists will come to "waste" their money here instead of Cyrpus, Turkey or Greece. The cash-strapped tourists who have their $1000 to spend on their pilgrimage will prefer to stay in the PA hotels, order PA tourist buses in order that their money will benefit themselves rather than the Israeli ministry of Finance. Lapid - Wake up - drop this idiotic plan immediately.
17. AHHHHHH
Ilan ,   Ramat Gan, Israel   (05.09.13)
how about you tax those who hog real-estate? people who buy summer homes, don't live in the country, but don't rent it out and leave it empty most of the year. they drive up the costs for us on the other hand,. tourists bring us money, and your plan is to steal more form them? holy crap, we don't need Arabs to destroy Israel. all they have to do is sit back, and watch us do it ourselves.....
18. Whatdayawant?Just like with Ehud B. we've chosen another "wu
tom ,   tel aviv   (05.09.13)
nderkid" (not being clear what his Superpowers are though) and now we begin to doubt our wisdom.... already?!
19. Spurious argument
Taxpayer ,   Hod Hasharon   (05.09.13)
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis travel abroad each year and pay VAT or Sales tax on their hotels, car rentals, meals and purchases. The reasons why people don;t come here are a lot more to do with the high prices charged by hotels, price gauging at tourist sites and beaches, the security situation and negative publicity.
20. Who would go and stay in Ramallah?
Michael Redbourn ,   Arad   (05.09.13)
I know people with guest houses in Arad and they have visitors from all over the world with most coming from Europe. I doubt that even one of them would even dream of staying in Ramallah to save VAT. Less tourists might visit Israel because of the additional cost but 99% of them wouldn't choose Ramallah instead.
21. #11 - You don't think Ramallah is dangerous?
Michael Redbourn ,   Arad   (05.09.13)
I know somebody that works for Blackwater USA and he said he feels far far safer in Gaza than he does in the PA controlled areas. You pay less but the risk of getting kidnapped or harmed is far far higher. I wouldn't be able to sleep there even in their best hotels. And the idea of getting spat at and cursed doesn't exactly excite me either. Americans are loved in Israel and hated by the Arabs! A big difference!
22. A bad idea
Avi Mizrachi ,   Tel Aviv   (05.09.13)
This reminds me of the "Shalom Hagalil Tax" that was imposed on Israelis wishing to leave the country. It was meant to help pay for the cost of the 1982 Lebanon war but in reality it was in effect for about 10 years and became known to many as the "Prisoners of Zion Tax". Thank goodness it was finally annulled after much public protest.
23. another stroke of genus from Lapid
zionist forever   (05.09.13)
Israel is not swimming in oil and tourism make up a huge part of the countries income and anything that is done to hurt the tourism industry is going to be damaging to the economy. The hotels will of course charge much more and they are already expensive and they will probably make up profits by giving you less service for more money just like the airline industry started doing to save money which is only going to make Israel a less attractive place to visit. Shows what a genius our new finance minister is $9 million is not a huge sacrifice to the budget if it will keep the tourists coming. So far Lapid's budget has resulted in Israels credit rating being downgraded making borrowing money on favourable terms harder raising the debt ceiling so he can borrow more which is the same kind of policies that led to the mess in the European economies. Now he is trying to kill tourism, whats next other than the latest way, all this man is any good at is hurting haredi but he wants to the next PM.
24. What is all the fuss...tourists already pay VAT
Gideon78 ,   Cpt South Africa   (05.09.13)
To tell you the truth everything that is bought in Israel includes VAT. I was already under the impression that hotels, car rentals charged VAT, how many times I have asked for cheaper prices as a tourist and the car rental place said Israeli, tourist same price. Another piece of the pie that people forget is Kosher facilities which is important, the whole hotel needs to be kosher in order to be able to attract anyone. It is more expensive to run a kosher hotel too. There are plenty of other points that are missed. The bottomline is that this increase will not stop tourists, they will still come, especially if they are paying in euros, dollars or pounds because the increase will be insignificant...it will only be problematic for tourists who come from countries where the exchange rate is poor. Staying in the PA instead of Israel is also not wise, you will need an Israeli car in order to go through the check points more quicker otherwise you are going to waste time which is money. That would be the biggest disadvantage. Renting an ISraeli car and going to park it in the PA could pose a threat and the rental company might not take that risk. I think a lot of peope are missing the point.
25. That would be great!
Ehud   (05.09.13)
Tourism would boost Palestinian economy and make them less prone to risk that by relenting to violence. At the same time, tourists could see with there own eyes that there is no "brutal Israeli occupation". Moreover, competition would force the exaggerated prices on the Israeli side down, and Israelis themselves will finally be able to afford vacations inside Israel.
26. Stop the madness - tax those who should be taxed.
Chaim ,   Jerusalem   (05.09.13)
It really is quite simple. 1. Stop paying 'Kitzvat Yeladim' to families earning more than 20,000 NIS/month. 2. Tax ALL revenue earned from ALLl apartment leases. Currently, the fist 4,800 NIS is tax exempt (Approximately $16K/year). Israelis who own more than two apartments will often register the additional property in someone else's name to avoid taxes. 3. Tax the 'millions' of tourists and Israelis residing abroad who temporarily stay in properties that they own but don't live in most of the year. Most luxury apartments in Jerusalem build after 2000 are now owned by people who do not reside in Israel! 4. Tax State pensions for Israelis residing abroad. The UK and many other Western nations have adopted an overseas pension reform. Israel should also follow suit. 5. Stop the 'Dor Hemshech" free land give-away insanity. Currently those living on a Moshav, Kibbutz of settlement are entitled to have one child get a free plot of land from the government.. Depending on location, these plots can instead, be sold to private developers for millions of NIS. I'll stop here as we all know, I'm just wasting my time - of course, as always, the poor and middle class will wind up paying the bill while the rich will get richer and laugh all the way to the bank.
27. well
rm ,   Amsterdan, NL   (05.09.13)
If Israel feels that the PA is starting to overshadow Israel for touristpurposes it just plays out the security card....as in close borders for foreigners. Works beautifully everytime...so why not in this case?
28. #17:-)
mark ,   ca   (05.09.13)
They do pay tax called "arnona".
29. To: No. 17
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (05.09.13)
Have you ever seen how Israelis treat rental property? Renting to them is out of the question. We did it once -- just once. We said "no pets" -- they had two cats. We said "no smoking" -- they smoked. Furniture was broken, bathroom tiles were cracked, the apartment looked like a pigsty and we just couldn't bear the thought of living there anymore. You can never get rid of the smell of cigarettes, anyway. We sold the apartment, bought a new one, and neither our principal home nor our apartment will ever be rented. Israelis who rent or sublet don't care about how they take care of the property. Has it occurred to you that just may be a reason why so many property-owning duals who spend most of their time elsewhere will NOT rent or sublease to Israelis?
30. no tax breaks
Mordechai ,   Beit Shemesh   (05.09.13)
Bring it on, it is not the tourists who will suffer but all those businesses in Mea Sharim who don't pay taxes and claim all their customers are tourists, stop their stealing from the State! the state should also reward every citizen that reports tax cheats and dodgers, an end to off the books, pay me in cash the way the charidi community operates.
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