The Government of Israel has approved a new initiative to deepen tourism cooperation with India, including a dedicated allocation of 4 million NIS by the Israel Ministry of Tourism to expand engagement in the Indian market and advance the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in tourism—subject to parallel allocation by the Government of India.
The decision forms part of a broader governmental effort to strengthen bilateral relations between Israel and India across multiple sectors, with tourism identified as a key area for growth and collaboration.
At the centre of the initiative is the promotion of a tourism MoU between the Israel Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The proposed agreement is expected to establish a joint working group focused on policy dialogue, innovation, regulation, and strategic planning. It will also encourage cooperation between national tourism authorities, local governments, airlines, and private sector stakeholders in both countries.
The joint working group will examine practical steps to increase travel volumes between Israel and India and develop tailored tourism offerings for the Indian market, with particular emphasis on leisure travel, family tourism, business travel, and the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment.
Haim Katz, Minister of Tourism, said:
“Strengthening tourism cooperation between Israel and India is a strategic priority with significant long-term potential. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel markets. Advancing a formal Memorandum of Understanding and establishing a joint working mechanism will create a structured, operational framework to increase travel flows, develop joint tourism products, and reinforce economic and people-to-people ties between our countries.”
Galit Hoffman, Consul – Tourism Affairs, Israel Ministry of Tourism in India, added:
“This government decision marks an important milestone in advancing tourism ties between Israel and India. With a dedicated allocation to expand our activities in the Indian market, we are entering a new phase of focused and sustained growth. India is not only a rapidly expanding outbound travel market, but also a strategic partner for Israel. Through deeper collaboration with the Indian travel trade and aviation sector, and by working alongside relevant Israeli authorities to streamline travel procedures, we aim to create stronger, long-term tourism flows and make visiting Israel more accessible and attractive for Indian travellers.”
In parallel, the Israel Ministry of Tourism will conduct a joint review with the Israel Population and Immigration Authority and other relevant authorities to explore ways to ease visa procedures for Indian tourists and enhance the overall entry experience into Israel.
These measures are expected to support a significant increase in inbound tourism from India and contribute to the continued growth of Israel’s tourism sector.