THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Israel Is Losing Its Pilgrimage Image,
Becoming Europe's Popular Vacation Spot

and unreliable service.
The fact that they are
JERUSALEM — The working to help put the air-
tourist profile has changed line back on its feet, com-
drastically in the past two bined with El Al's tradi-
years and Israel is no longer tional scrupulous security
mainly a sentimental jour- measures, its popularity as
ney for Jewish travelers. the Jewish airline and its
While some still do come be- role in promoting tourism to
cause it is the Jewish home- the country, all these augur
land or to visit relatives and well for tourism, Gidron be-7
religious sites, Israel is be- lieves.
Inauguration of flights
ginning to attract more of
an entirely different type of between Tel Aviv and Cairo
tourist: the vacationer, sun by El Al is another de-
and sea worshiper, spa and velopment in the right di-
health-care faddist, the ad- rection, enabling visitors
venturer in search of a new who wish to cover both
countries during one trip to
place to visit.
Over a third of the teal the region, to make the
number of visitors from the hour-long journey for $170
European continent come round trip.
for holiday purposes, re-
In the first half of 1980, a
ports Michael Gidron, total of 577,000 tourists ar-
spokesman for the Tourism rived here, marking a seven
Administration. This de- percent increase over the
spite competition from same period last year. Is-
Greece, Spain and other at- rael's income from foreign
tractive resorts.,
tourism exceeded its import
The greatest number of of tourist services by some
European visitors these $500 million according to
days are from Germany the Bank of Israel foreign-
with Scandinavia following currency examiner.
closely and England and
The average income
France now down to third from each tourist showed
and fourth places.
an increase of 25 percent
There is a leaning from 1978, a much bigger
toward less luxurious increase than the dollar's
hotel accommodations fall in value according to
and preference for out- the bank.
door, sports and health
Despite all this, however,
spots.
the hotel industry is facing
This new type of tourist is a crisis, reporting that it is
flocking to the Dead Sea, struggling to keep head
Tiberias Springs, Sea of above water. Some hotels
Galilee, Western Galilee, are losing money due to the
camping sites around the high cost of running the
country and in huge num- hotels, tour . operators' fees
bers in Eilat and the Sinai and runaway inflation,
even in summer.
states the general manager
For the first time, there of the Tel Aviv Hilton.
has been uninterrupted
Nevertheless, one wit-
traffic to Eilat and the rug- nesses here the paradox of a
ged tip of the Sinai where constant rise of new hotels.
throngs of foreign visitors The Sheraton Hotel is con-
may be found swimming, structing luxury hotels in
fishing, boating, diving and Jerusalem and Eilat; the
sightseeing, in an unprece- Schiffhotel chain has a plan
dented boom of tourism for for six new hotels in five
this region.
different locations, includ-
Lifting of the govern- ing apartment hotels and
ment's ban on charter the conversion of the
flights, too, has greatly in- President . Hotel in
creased the influx of Jerusalem into a 500-room
tourists here. Gidron points giant luxury hotel. The
to the numerous charter chain is adding 1,200 rooms
- flights coming directly to to the existing 1,800 rooms
Eilat from airports abroad, in Schiff hotels around the
even for the first time from country.
such places as Spain and
Israel is continuing to at-
Luxembourg.
tract, along with the holi-
El Al too is charting day makers, the usual
some of the traffic, de- number of convention par-
spite its former strong ob- ticipants, pilgrims,
jections to charters it has businessmen and scholars.
increased these by 40 Less expensive accommoda-
percent this season. And tions are constantly being
in fact, the airline has provided for them.
turned over a new leaf, its
Camping sites, more
eight workers commit- reasonably priced hotels
tees pledging to cooper- as well as sports and
ate with management to entertainment facilities
improve the company's in different parts of the
image impaired over country are other focal
years by inefficiency, points on which the
wildcat strikes, delays Tourist Administration is

BURGLAR ALARMS

By DIANA LERNER

World Zionist Press Service

•

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t fore sun for your money

100

Friday, November 14, 1980 21

ALLSTATE
ALARM
SYSTEMS

NEW COMPUTERIZED
SECURITY EQUIPMENT

I NC.

Central Station Monitoring

Thousands of satisfied customers

CALL THE

A London bus promotes vacationing in Israel.

now concentrating.
Visitors express satisfac-
tion with their trip and
readiness to recommend Is-

rael as a tourist destination,
according to a report of the
Central Bureau of Statis-
tics.

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ROTT BROS LODEN

MARTY
CY
SHEL

540

17534 W. 7 MILE, DETROIT
LICENSED BY
MICH. DEPT. OF STATE POLICE

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20 CIGARETTES

Israeli Views Split on Yordim

JERUSALEM (ZINS) —
A recent survey by the Pub-
lic Opinion Research Insti-
tute shows that 56.8 percent
of Israelis condemn Israelis
who immigrate from the
country (yordim). Some 23.4
percent condoned the

emigres.
Some 68.1 percent op-
posed the granting of spe-
cial privileges to yordim
who return to Israel.

Near golden wagons you
will find golden nails.

Warning The Surgeon General Has Determined
That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous toYour Health.

flt Ate Pkirle•O.,.

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