Israel Government Tourist Office, UK House, 180 Oxford Street, London, W1N 7HR
Tel: 020 7299 1110 (trade enquiries)
e-mail: info@igto.co.uk
Tour Operators’ View: Selling leisure travel to Israel is toughest on the specialist tour operators whose revenues can fluctuate alarmingly. Tour operators see IGTO as willing but unimaginative. It has been praised for its co-operative promotional and fam activities. And with a new government in Israel, a new tourism minister and a new IGTO director in London, they are hopeful of more productive times ahead. 6 out of 10
Retailer Agents’ Views: My undercover agents all expressed genuine satisfaction with the service they received from the IGTO but several of them seemed surprised that the tourist board was so efficient. However, the tourist board had no-one who could provide specialist meetings and incentive travel advice. 7 out of 10
Consumers’ Views: It is simple for consumers to contact IGTO. BT enquiries has all the numbers. Calls are answered live, by helpful staff. All undercover requests for brochures were fulfilled within three days. Terrific service. The information provided is comprehensive but the brochures are in need of a design face-lift. 7 out of 10
Kent’s conclusions: IGTO has a reputation for being enthusiastic and resilient but reactive and rather old fashioned. It is very accomplished with handling consumer and trade enquiries and also reputed for its trade fams, media fams and promotional roadshows but it seems to lack marketing sophistication. 6 out of 10