The Israel Ministry of Tourism has concluded a three-city roadshow across India, attracting around 300 travel trade professionals and signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI). The initiative aims to strengthen destination promotion, trade engagement, and business opportunities between the two markets.
The roadshows were held in New Delhi on 12 October, Bengaluru on 14 October, and Mumbai on 16 October 2026, marking the Ministry’s return to large-scale, in-person engagement with the Indian travel trade after several years.
Travel agents, tour operators, and industry representatives attended the events, alongside destination management companies Amaris Tours and Events, Magi Holidays, and Satguru Travel. Presentations and industry interactions covered Israel’s offerings across leisure and family travel, luxury tourism, MICE, culture, adventure, and experiential tourism.
Israel and OTOAI sign cooperation agreement
The Mumbai roadshow featured the signing of an MoU between the Israel Ministry of Tourism and OTOAI. The agreement was signed by Himanshu Kesari Patil, President, OTOAI, and Galit Hoffman, Consul for Tourism Affairs, Israel Ministry of Tourism, India.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in destination promotion, professional training, familiarisation trips, marketing initiatives, and other activities intended to expand awareness of Israel among Indian travellers and develop business opportunities for the travel trade.
Galit Hoffman, Consul for Tourism Affairs, Israel Ministry of Tourism, India, said, “There is no substitute for meeting our travel trade partners face to face. These interactions allow us to strengthen relationships, better understand the market’s needs and explore new opportunities together. They have reinforced our belief in the tremendous potential of the Indian market.
“Our partnership with OTOAI goes far beyond the signing of an agreement. It represents a meaningful vote of confidence in Israel as a tourism destination; in the diversity of experiences it offers and in the future of tourism between our two countries. We deeply value the trust of our Indian partners and see this collaboration as a shared, long-term commitment to strengthening ties and unlocking our tourism potential.
“India is an important strategic market for us, and we remain committed to working closely with our industry partners to introduce more Indian travellers to the many diverse experiences Israel has to offer.”
Tourism recovery and air connectivity
According to the Ministry, Israel received approximately 140,000 international tourists in September 2026, up 19% from September 2025. Based on current trends, arrivals are projected to exceed 1.1 million by the end of 2026.
The Ministry identifies India as its largest Asian source market and one of its top 10 international source markets, underlining the importance of trade engagement and destination promotion in India.
Air connectivity is also expected to support travel between the two countries. Air India is scheduled to resume direct flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv from 1 December 2026, with five weekly services, according to the press release. The route’s resumption is expected to provide additional options for Indian travellers visiting Israel.
The Ministry also cited the resumption of direct services by international carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and KLM in recent months as a sign of improving international air connectivity.
Further engagement with Indian travel trade
The roadshow forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to expand its engagement with the Indian travel industry. Planned activities include professional training, familiarisation trips, webinars, B2B meetings, and joint initiatives with travel trade and media partners.
The focus is on improving destination knowledge among Indian travel professionals and supporting the development of tourism products suited to Indian travellers.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.
