Israel Ministry of Tourism Signs Strategic MoU with TAAI to Strengthen Tourism Ties with India
Agreement signed at TAAI’s 69th Convention & Exhibition in Kolkata focuses on destination promotion, travel trade engagement and professional training.
The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) to strengthen tourism cooperation and expand engagement with the Indian travel trade. The agreement was signed during TAAI’s 69th Convention & Exhibition, held in Kolkata from 25 to 27 October 2026.
The MoU was signed by Galit Hoffman, Consul for Tourism Affairs, Israel Ministry of Tourism, India, and Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI. It provides a framework for long-term collaboration aimed at increasing awareness of Israel as a tourism destination, enhancing destination knowledge among Indian travel professionals and developing joint initiatives to encourage travel between the two markets.
Under the agreement, both organisations will explore opportunities for joint roadshows across India, destination training and educational programmes, familiarisation (FAM) tours, and collaborative marketing and promotional activities. These initiatives are expected to strengthen connections between the Israeli tourism sector and India’s travel trade while creating new opportunities for destination promotion.
Galit Hoffman, Consul for Tourism Affairs, Israel Ministry of Tourism, India, said, “For us, building strong relationships with our travel trade partners is key to growing our presence in India. TAAI has deep roots in the Indian travel industry and a strong network across the country, making this partnership a great opportunity to connect with more travel professionals and explore new ways to promote Israel. We see tremendous potential in the Indian market and believe that working closely with our partners will help us turn growing interest into meaningful opportunities. We truly value the trust and support of our Indian travel partners and look forward to building a strong, lasting relationship with TAAI.”
Sunil Kumar, President, Travel Agents Association of India, said, “We are pleased to partner with the Israel Ministry of Tourism to strengthen destination promotion and create new opportunities for our members. Through TAAI’s nationwide network, we look forward to facilitating greater engagement between Israel and the Indian travel trade through joint initiatives. This collaboration will help our members gain a deeper understanding of Israel’s tourism offerings and better serve the evolving interests of Indian travellers.”
The partnership reflects IMOT’s efforts to broaden India’s perception of Israel beyond its established pilgrimage tourism segment. The destination offers a diverse range of experiences, including culture and heritage, leisure and family holidays, luxury travel, adventure, culinary tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).
The MoU follows IMOT’s three-city roadshow in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai earlier in October, marking its first such series in India in almost seven years. The ministry has also signed a separate MoU with the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), reinforcing its efforts to build stronger relationships with India’s outbound travel industry.
Further strengthening connectivity between the two markets, Air India is scheduled to resume direct flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv from 1 December 2026, with five weekly services.
Through these partnerships and trade engagement initiatives, the Israel Ministry of Tourism aims to improve destination awareness, equip Indian travel professionals with greater product knowledge and develop sustainable, long-term opportunities for tourism collaboration between India and Israel.
