The 31st International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM), the largest annual professional tourism exhibition in the Eastern Mediterranean, opened its doors this morning at the Expo Tel Aviv Convention Center. The two-day event, running May 7-8, gathers hundreds of exhibitors from Israel and around the globe, aiming to foster connections and showcase new opportunities in a sector working towards revitalization, particularly in light of recent regional challenges.
Organized by Ortra Ltd. and Israel Travel News (ITN), in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, IMTM 2025 is a pivotal event for the local and international tourism industry. It serves as a crucial platform for national and regional tourism offices, airlines, hotel groups, car rental companies, and travel technology providers to network, share insights, and forge new partnerships.
This year’s exhibition holds particular significance as Israel’s tourism industry focuses on recovery and rebuilding. Organizers anticipate that the event will play a key role in supporting and rehabilitating tourism, offering a much-needed boost to both inbound and outbound travel. Despite the complex security situation, a strong presence of international delegations is reported, including leading travel companies from countries such as Vietnam, various African nations, India, and Uganda, alongside numerous Israeli tourism bodies and municipalities.
Eyal Shmueli, editor-in-chief of ITN and a co-organizer of IMTM, highlighted the event’s importance: “The participation of leading travel companies from around the world in IMTM not only demonstrates confidence in the Israeli market but also fosters the strengthening of international ties for the entire tourism industry. IMTM is a bridge between countries, cultures, and professionals, a value that will boost the entire tourism industry.” He further emphasized that “against the background of the complex security situation, the tourism industry in Israel is experiencing a particularly challenging period… We believe that the existence of the tourism exhibition these days is a significant value for Israeli tourism”.
The opening ceremony, held this morning, was attended by Israel’s Minister of Tourism – Haim Katz; Yitzhak Wasserlauf – Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev, and the Galilee; Eli Cohen – President of the Israel Hotels Association; Rina Kamani – CEO of the Association of Travel Agencies in Israel; Lior Gelfand – CEO of Ortra Ltd.; Eyal Shmueli, editor-in-chief of ITN and a co-organizer of IMTM, ambassadors, and leading figures from the local and international tourism sectors. Throughout the event, attendees can expect a vibrant showcase of destinations, professional conferences, seminars, and a dedicated program for international travel agents and decision-makers aimed at promoting Israel as a prime tourist destination.
IMTM 2025 is open to tourism professionals throughout both days, with the general public invited to explore the offerings from 2:00 PM on May 7th and 8th. The exhibition is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors, all looking to discover the latest trends and destinations for the upcoming travel seasons.

Photo : Israel’s Minister of Tourism – Haim Katz;
Yitzhak Wasserlauf – Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev, and the Galilee;
Eli Cohen – President of the Israel Hotels Association;
Lior Gelfand – CEO of Ortra Ltd.;
Eyal Shmueli, editor-in-chief of ITN and a co-organizer of IMTM
Rina Kamani – CEO of the Association of Travel Agencies in Israel