Tourism figures in Israel have remained high in the years since the end of the 2nd intifada (and 2012 looks like being the best ever year!). And long may it continue.
One aspect of tourism that has shown a noticeable change over these years is the shifting preference for spending the holiday in a city apartment as opposed to a hotel. Not that the hotels are complaining as they still command high prices for restricted sea frontage. There undoubtedly remain some tourists that prefer the hotel holiday lifestyle and will not relinquish this pleasure. Others have realized that their money can go further and explore the alternatives available to them.
As a case study, let’s look at the bustling and ever popular Tel Aviv vacation rental scene. Beautiful long beaches, bars and cafes stretching the length of the sand. Seasoned Tel Aviv visitors have realized that there is much more to the city than just being a ‘beach town’.
In order to maximize their ‘authentic’ Tel Aviv experience they need to live more like a local. This means renting a ‘short-term’ apartment somewhere within the hustle bustle of the city. As well as being significantly more cost effective, there are other benefits that an apartment has over a hotel room. Families prefer having a kitchen to feed children at home, a private balcony or garden means they can enjoy the sunshine without having to go down to the public hotel pool area.
The rise in popularity for apartments can be seen by the increase in the number of companies offering short-term apartment rentals. Tel Aviv based company ‘Stay at my Place!’ offered this insight into the growing trend: ‘Israel tourists today are much more street savvy than they once were. They know that the cost of coming here and eating out and shopping is not cheap so if they can save some money on their accommodation they will.’
It is equally as easy to book an apartment today online from anywhere in the world as it is a hotel. Websites are in English and have a list of apartment options with locations throughout the country. Some companies act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for travelers in Israel wanting to stay in different cities. By visiting www.stayatmyplace.co.il, a tourist could book a trip all the way from Eilat to Netanya, stopping off in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on the way.
Cara Katz of ‘Stay at my Place!’ thinks that the Israeli tourist is inherently different to your typical tourist: ‘They come here because they feel at home. Forget the beaches and tourist sites for a second, they are Jewish and for 2 weeks of the year want to feel like they are in their ‘religious homeland’. A home has to feel homely which an apartment offers much more than a hotel. This trend is only going to keep growing as more people keep coming back again and again.’