Last update - 00:00 05/02/2008
Hotels spared most of water hike
Israel's hotels will pay only 20% more for water rather than the 60% hike that the Water Board had planned, saving the industry an estimated NIS 10 million a year. The sector was spared thanks to Herculean lobbying by the Tourism Ministry and the Hotels Association, pressing the Water Board.
Hotels will pay the same as industry for water, but the individual hotels will also have to conserve on use - or pay the higher price. Tourism Ministry director-general Shaul Tzemach commented that the ministry's motive had actually been to spare the tourist from a steeper hike in hotel rates.