Eilat Hotel
Photo: Asaf Pinchuk
Report slams Israel's Tourism Ministry
State Comptroller says Ministry lacks strategic five-year plan, finds deficiencies in aviation, hoteliery projects
The annual report published earlier this week by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss slamed Israel's Tourism Ministry's activity in the past year.
Lindenstrauss' report charges that the Ministry had not formulated a strategic five-year plan to promote Israel's main tourist locations. It further pointed out that there was a delay in the ratification of bilateral air transport agreements, which would lead to a broader range of flight destinations.
Lindenstrauss also drew attention to the fact that buildings designated for hoteliery purposes were now being used for other aims and that bureaucracy in government offices was delaying the construction of new hotels in the country.
Moreover, the report suggested that the government's decision to build another airport in addition Ben Gurion Airport was not implemented.
The comptroller's office also inspected the government's ability to promote incoming tourism to Israel. According to the ministry's forecast, more than five million visitors are expected to come to Israel in 2015.
In order for such estimates to materialize, the aviation and hotel industies must adapt themselves to the predicted growth in tourism, the report said.
