In a bid to strengthen tourism ties, Israel is all set to introduce an exclusive e-visa scheme for tourists from India by the end of this year. Under this new initiative, the visa procedure would be made easy and hassle-free to attract a substantial number of tourists from the country. As of now, Israel does not have the facility of e-visas for any country, and thus this development would prove to be really historic in its own ways.
Ambitious Goals of Tourism in Israel
According to Amruta Bangera, the Director of Marketing at Israel Ministry of Tourism, India, the country looks to welcome 70,000 Indian tourists in the year 2025 and 100,000 in 2026. The strategic step toward meeting any such ambitious targets would be an e-visa program.
As of September 2023, Israel had seen around 41,800 Indian visitors, which was actually a strong recovery from the pandemic.
Why an E-Visa Programme?
Israel recognizes the potential of the Indian market. “India is the first country for which we are launching e-visas because we firmly believe in the vast opportunities the Indian market presents,” said Bangera. “We intend to target the huge number of tourists going out from India,” she stressed.
With the introduction of e-visas, visiting Israel will be easier for Indians. This will get rid of all the physical processes involved in obtaining a visa for travel. Facilitation of access will increase the influx of tourists to this lovely destination and help the tourism sector grow.
Partnerships and higher capacity on flights:
In view of this initiative turning successful, Israel is negotiating with prominent airlines, IndiGo and Air India, to increase their flight capacity. Air India has already increased the number of flights from India to Israel from three to four and is looking at daily flights from Delhi and probably even Mumbai. This increase in frequency will lend more variety, flexibility, and convenience in travel options for visitors from India.
Marketing and Promotion Efforts
Complementing the initiative of e-Visa, Israel is fast-tracking its marketing campaigns. A digital campaign is planned that will specifically target Indian tourists, besides seminars, roadshows, and linkups with travel agents. The idea is to bring out the message that Israel is a safe place to visit with many attractions for good times.
Key Markets in India
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Hyderabad have been identified as the most promising markets in India for Israeli tourism.Of particular note, 50% of the total tourists who visited Israel this year came from South India. Pilgrimage continues to dominate with about 48 percent of Indian visitors, followed by leisure at 30 percent, MICE at 12 percent, and others at 10 per cent.
Safety and security
Pini Shani, the Deputy Director General and Head of the Marketing Administration at Israel Tourism, was keen to reassure that the country has been giving paramount importance to tourist safety. From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, via the Dead Sea and Galilee, all major tourist places are fully operational and buzzing with activity 24 hours a day to ensure that That all guests have a safe and great experience.
Conclusion
The launch of the e-visa programme to India ushers in a new frontier in Israel-India tourism ties. With improved accessibility, increased flights, and some serious marketing, the country is all set to become one of the top spots for visitors from India. Stay tuned for more updates as Israel prepares to welcome a new wave of tourists with open arms.
