Eilat's hotels are going through their toughest winter season yet, with city streets empty of visitors, both foreigners and Israelis.
According to Fattal Hotels Ltd. CEO Rafi Sade, many hotel owners are taking advantage of this unexpected slump for renovations.
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"We're renovating the hotel that used to be Club Med Hotel, the Magic Palace Hotel, and even at Herods Hotel we've closed off a few rooms for repairs," he said.
Isrotel's CEO Lior Raviv said his hotel network also plans on renovating some hotels in the southern city, as the his chain too has seen a significant decrease in incoming tourism this winter.
"However, we must remember that in the beginning of 2011, there were a lot of tourists from Russia in Eilat because of the riots in Egypt ,"Raviv said.
Other business owners in Eilat have also been hit by the unexpected slump, and especially the restaurants along the boardwalk. Midweek, they claim, the eateries are empty because there are hardly any tourists around and most Israelis who come to Eilat eat their dinners at their hotels.