Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jul 26: Israel expects tourist arrivals from India to return to pre-war levels by 2027, driven by stronger marketing efforts, improved air connectivity, a streamlined visa process and closer bilateral ties, a senior tourism official has said.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji, Amruta Bangera, Director of Marketing at the Israel Ministry of Tourism, said Israel had witnessed one of its strongest tourism recoveries after the Covid-19 pandemic before the Israel-Gaza conflict disrupted its growth trajectory.
Around 69,100 Indian tourists visited Israel in 2019, while nearly 44,000 travelled to the country between January and September 2023, before the outbreak of the conflict.
"Our recovery following the pandemic was among the strongest across our key source markets, and we were on track to match, or even surpass, pre-pandemic arrival levels," Bangera said.
She added that had the conflict not interrupted the recovery, Israel would have been well on its way to welcoming more than 100,000 Indian visitors annually.
Describing the conflict as a temporary disruption, Bangera said Israel remains confident that the Indian market will regain its growth trajectory as stability returns.
"In 2025, Israel welcomed nearly 13,900 visitors from India. Despite the challenging circumstances, Indian travellers continued to choose Israel, reflecting the resilience of the market and the enduring interest in the destination," she said.
On connectivity, Bangera said restoring direct flights between India and Israel remains one of the biggest growth opportunities. While there are currently no direct services, major international airlines have resumed operations to Ben Gurion Airport, and Indian travellers continue to access Israel through Middle Eastern carriers.
She expressed optimism that Indian and Israeli airlines would resume direct connectivity in the near future.
Bangera said Israel has significantly diversified its tourism offerings over the past decade, positioning itself as a destination beyond religious travel.
"Our focus has been on positioning Israel as a multifaceted destination that offers far more than one type of travel experience. From culture, heritage and gastronomy to wellness, luxury, adventure and nature, Israel offers diverse experiences that appeal to different traveller interests throughout the year," she said.
She noted that even before the pandemic, an increasing number of Indian travellers were choosing Israel for leisure holidays, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), and other experiential travel.
While religious tourism will continue to remain an integral part of Israel's tourism sector because of the country's spiritual significance, Bangera said the ministry is also promoting Israel's vibrant cities, culinary experiences, luxury offerings, wellness, adventure tourism and world-class MICE infrastructure to attract a wider range of visitors.