The report on hotel accommodation and occupancy in Israel indicates relatively low occupancy data for the same period in 2019. Occupancy in all areas of the country has decreased, but the trend is even more extreme, in inbound tourist-oriented areas.
A total of 1.52 million person-nights were recorded in September, of which about 1.47 million were Israeli person-nights (97%), an increase of 19% (Israeli person-nights) compared with September 2019. The average national occupancy amounted to 45%.
In all regions of the country, there was a decrease in occupancy compared to 2019
The highest occupancies were recorded in tourist-oriented areas: Eilat about 73% (compared to 79% in September 2019, a decrease of 8%), the Dead Sea with about 58% occupancy (compared to 72% in September 2019, a decrease of 19%) and Herzliya about 49% (compared to 80% in September 2019, a decrease of 39%).
In the guest houses in the Galilee Kibbutz, occupancy was recorded at about 69% and in the Sea of Galilee area, occupancy was about 54%.
In the rest of the country – the areas driven by inbound tourism, occupancy was lower than the national average, with the most prominent cities: Tel Aviv with an occupancy of about 28% compared to about 82% in 2019 (decrease of 66%), Jerusalem occupancy of about 25% compared with about 73% (decrease of 66%) and Nazareth about 15% occupied compared to about 86% in September 2019 (decrease 82%).
In other cities, too, there was a decrease in occupancy in September: Haifa had about 44% occupancy compared with 71% (a decrease of 38%). Tiberias is about 39% occupied compared to about 72% (decrease of 46%). Netanya about 40% compared to about 68% (decrease of 41%).
Data from January-September of 2021 (cumulative) show that the number of overnight stays in hotels amounted to about 11.1 million person-nights (a decrease of about 43%), of which about 10.7 million are Israeli person-nights (96%).
The average national room occupancy amounted to only about 36%, compared with about 70% in the corresponding period in 2019.
The hotel association said: “The low occupancy data indicate that the local tourism industry has not yet recovered from the epidemic and is still a long way from returning to normal. In November, it is very significant for the industry, but until the regular flow of tourists to Israel, with a minimum of restrictions, many more months will pass. Until then, urgent assistance is required from the state for hotels intended for inbound tourism to survive the period”.