The International Tourism Fair OTM opened in Mumbai, with Tourism Minister Haim Katz invited as the guest of honor to the general opening of the fair and inaugurated the Israeli pavilion. Over the past week, Minister Haim Katz has been on a working visit to the continent with the aim of encouraging tourism to Israel. Among other things, he met with his counterpart, the CEO of Air India, senior agents and wholesalers in India, and journalists.

It was agreed that India and Israel will promote the arrival of workers to the Israeli tourism industry. Air India announced that it is expected to open a direct route between Mumbai and Ben Gurion Airport towards 2026, in addition to flights from New Delhi that will begin operating this March

Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz: “India has tremendous tourism potential that we are working to realize. We have set a strategic goal by 2030 to reach seven million tourists, and India is a key market in achieving it. The Indian tourist is looking for a unique experience, and Israel has a rich tourist offering that provides a wide range of options. At the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism, a delegation of agents and journalists from India will visit Israel in the coming months, to create vacation packages and exposure”.

The fair, considered the most important in central India, is exhibiting around 1,100 tourism organizations from 55 countries. In addition, over 40,000 participants from the tourism industry in India and abroad are expected to visit the fair, including: local media, travel agents, tourism offices, travel associations, hotel chains, airlines and agents that produce exhibitions, conferences and MICE tourism.

The Israeli pavilion covers an area of ​​approximately 40 square meters and is designed in a way that represents Israel as a prestigious and attractive tourist destination.