Israel Ministry of Tourism Returns to India with Three-City Roadshow and Signs Strategic MOU with OTOAI

The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) has successfully concluded a series of roadshows across three major Indian cities- New Delhi on 12 October, Bengaluru on 14 October and Mumbai on 16 October 2026- marking its return to large-scale, in-person engagement with the Indian travel trade after several years.

Trade Partners and Participation
- Attendees included travel agents, tour operators and industry stakeholders.
Participating DMCs:
- Amaris Tours and Events, Magi Holidays, Satguru Travel

Showcasing Israel Beyond Pilgrimage Tourism
Highlighted Israel's diverse tourism offerings:
- Leisure and family travel
- Luxury tourism
- MICE tourism
- Culture and heritage
- Adventure tourism
- Experiential travel
- Featured destination presentations, video screenings and B2B networking sessions.

Strategic MOU with OTOAI
Key Announcement in Mumbai
- IMOT signed an MOU with the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI).
- Agreement signed by:
- Himanshu Kesari Patil, President, OTOAI
- Galit Hoffman, Consul for Tourism Affairs, IMOT India

Areas of Collaboration
- Joint destination promotion
- Professional training programmes
- Familiarisation (FAM) trips
- Marketing campaigns
- Business development initiatives for the Indian travel trade

Tourism Recovery Momentum
Visitor Growth
- Israel welcomed approximately 140,000 tourists in September 2026.
- Represents a 19% increase compared to September 2025.
- Tourist arrivals are projected to exceed 1.1 million by the end of 2026.

Visitor GrowthVisitor Growth
- India remains Israel's largest source market in Asia.
- Ranked among Israel's top 10 global source markets.

Improved Air Connectivity
Air India Returns
- Air India to resume direct Delhi-Tel Aviv flights from 1 December 2026.
- Service will operate five times weekly.

Other International Airlines
- United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM

These carriers have also resumed direct services to Israel, strengthening global connectivity.

Road Ahead
- Focus on Long-Term Engagement
SupxxivenessIMOT plans to continue:
- Training programmes, FAM trips, Webinars, B2B meetings, Joint trade and media initiatives
- Objective: Increase destination awareness and drive more Indian visitors to Israel.