The Minister of Tourism of the State of Israel, Haim Katz, recently concluded a pivotal visit to India with an aim to strengthen tourism ties between the two nations. It included a series of strategic meetings with industry stakeholders and networking events to engage with travel trade.
Minister Katz met with his Indian counterpart, Minister of Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to discuss strengthening tourism tie between the two nations. Their conversations focussed on enhancing bilateral cooperation and deep historical and cultural connections shared by India and Israel. The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) delegation that included Ambassador Peleg Lewi, Foreign Affairs Advisor and Hassan Madah, International Marketing Director, IMOT also had a meeting with Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India to discuss enhanced connectivity and new opportunities to offer seamless travel to Israel.
IMOT participated in OTM 2025, one of the largest travel trade exhibitions in India this year. Minister Katz inaugurated the show at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on January 30th, amidst a distinguished gathering of travel professionals, tourism industry stakeholders, and media representatives. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “India is a critical market for us, and we are committed to deepening our engagement with the Indian travel trade. With the launch of the e-Visa system and our continued presence at key exhibitions as well we enhanced outreach, we are confident of achieving new milestones in 2025.” The Israel pavilion won the Best Booth Decoration Award at OTM for its design, visuals, and interactive elements showcasing the destination beautifully.
Networking Events in Key Indian Cities
The networking evenings held in Delhi and Mumbai brought together members of travel associations, travel trade fraternity, and OTAs. They discussed the ever-evolving Indian market and collaborative strategies to promote Israel as a preferred destination with the IMOT delegation. “We witnessed a surge in the number of Indian travellers visiting Israel in 2024, which presents the right moment for us to promote the destination. We want to ensure that Israel is safe and welcoming to tourists. We urge Indian travellers to experience our country in a more holistic way,” Minister Katz, said.
Tourist Arrivals in 2024
In spite of the geopolitical situation prevailing in Israel, India continued to show immense potential as a source market for Israel, with 9,600 Indian tourists visiting Israel between January and December 2024. With the recent announcement of ceasefire and Indian carriers, such as Air India resuming services to Israel from March 2025, tourist arrivals will continue to grow. The country received 961,700 tourists globally in 2024.
e-Visa Launch for Indian Families
In a step towards making Israel more accessible, the ministry recently launched an e-visa service for Indian tourists, especially families and multi-generational holidayers in January. This innovative digital solution simplifies the application process, making document submissions hassle-free through the official portal (www.gov.il/en/departments/topics/eta-il/govil-landing-page). It also integrates well with Israel’s Entry Travel Authorization (ETA) system. It is specifically designed for individual tourists and family vacationers. More information can be found on the official portal: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/learn-about-evisa-b2/.
Group visa applications will continue through existing channels. While the pilot phase is exclusively for Indian citizens, the long-term goal is to extend this service globally.
A Promising Future for Israel-India Tourism
Minister Katz’s visit underscores the importance of India as a source market for Israel and its commitment to deepening its ties with India’s tourism ecosystem. Looking ahead, IMOT has an ambitious roadmap for 2025 to further boost tourism from India. This includes trade and media outreach, participation in key trade shows, tier-II city visits, experiential events in India, and a focus on showcasing Israel as a year-round destination through campaigns.
