The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) concluded its participation at the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2026, held from 5^th – 7^th February at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, amidst a distinguished gathering of travel professionals, tourism industry stakeholders, and media representatives. A key highlight of IMOT’s participation was the appreciation it received at the OTM closing ceremony, where the Ministry was honoured with the Innovation in Destination Promotion Award, recognising its creative and forward-thinking approach to destination marketing.

Throughout the three-day exhibition, the Israeli pavilion emerged as one of the most dynamic hubs, buzzing with meetings across leisure tourism, MICE, family travel, and FIT segments. 600+ meaningful meetings were held overall, including interactions led by the participating Israeli Destination Management Companies (DMCs), namely, Rivera Tours, RT&T Triple “S” Tours & Travels Ltd, Magi Holidays ISRAEL, Amaris Tours and Events and Amazing Jerusalem Tours. There was a strong interest in Israel across all segments, with consistent requests for further information and follow-up discussions. In addition, numerous meetings were held with key industry stakeholders, including travel agents, airlines, OTAs, content creators, and media representatives.

OTM continues to stand out as a powerful and influential platform for the Israel Ministry of Tourism, enabling meaningful dialogue and collaboration with tour operators, decision-makers, and travel partners from across the Indian market. The depth and quality of engagement throughout the exhibition reinforced strong optimism regarding India’s growing interest in Israel’s rich heritage, vibrant culture, and diverse experiences.

In 2025, Israel welcomed 13,800 visitors from India, positioning India among Israel’s top ten inbound source markets worldwide and as the leading source market from Asia. The country received 1.318 million tourist arrivals globally in 2025. Looking ahead, IMOT anticipates a strong rebound, with approximately 50,000 visitors from India expected in 2026.

Speaking on the occasion, Galit Hoffman, Consul – Tourism Affairs for India, IMOT, said, “OTM was a great opportunity to see how much interest there is in Israel from the Indian market. People are looking for destinations with character, stories, and different experiences and Israel offers all of that – from ancient sites to modern life, culture, and outstanding cuisine. We really enjoyed the conversations at OTM and look forward to deepening our cooperation with our partners in India.”

Looking ahead, IMOT has an ambitious roadmap for 2026 to further accelerate tourism growth 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.