Israel Tourism Ministry invests $11.1 million to prepare for post-truce recovery

As the Middle East conflict moves into a truce phase, Israel's Tourism Authority is stepping up preparations to welcome foreign visitors back.

The Israeli government is pursuing a support package worth 43 million shekels (about 17 billion won, or approximately $11.1 million) to sustain the tourism industry's foundations and prepare for a rebound in inbound demand, the authority said Wednesday.

The package was proposed by Tourism Minister Haim Katz. The government has approved a 35 million shekel (about 14 billion won) program to help inbound tourism operators retain key personnel.

The Tourism Ministry will also provide a separate 8 million shekel (about 3.2 billion won) fund to support overseas marketing activities and expand efforts to attract foreign tourists to Israel.

The war has taken a heavy toll on the Israeli economy. The measures are designed to support inbound tourism businesses that have seen a sharp drop in foreign visitors and significant revenue losses due to the regional conflict, and to position the industry for a swift recovery.

The ministry said it aims to preserve the tourism sector's core capabilities and international marketing networks even during the crisis, so that operators can respond quickly once demand recovers.

The separate 3.2 billion won marketing support fund was established to help overseas tourism businesses with their international promotional activities.

The fund will be used for overseas advertising campaigns, participation in international tourism fairs and professional events, digital marketing, and tourism promotion activities — all part of the ministry's policy to maintain Israel's international tourism marketing infrastructure through the crisis.

The new support comes on top of a 70 million shekel (about 28 billion won) budget already allocated for inbound tourism assistance since the war broke out in October 2023, underscoring the Israeli government's continued commitment to preserving the sector's core infrastructure and skilled workforce.

Given the prolonged difficulties facing the industry, the ministry said it is critical to prevent skilled professionals and accumulated expertise from leaving the market. The program is designed to support the retention of key personnel over the next 15 months, enabling an immediate response when the tourism market recovers.

"The tourism industry sustains the livelihoods of countless families and makes a major contribution to the national economy in normal times, but in a crisis it is above all essential to maintain the human and industrial infrastructure that drives recovery," Tourism Minister Katz said. "Through this special budget support, operators will be able to retain their key staff, expertise and international networks, and we will continue to provide support to strengthen tourism competitiveness."

The Israel Tourism Authority's Seoul office serves as the official representative of Israel's Tourism Ministry in Korea. It promotes Israel's historical, cultural and religious heritage, provides information on destinations where the spiritual significance of the Holy Land meets the romance of the Mediterranean, and carries out a range of marketing and promotional activities to convey the beauty and appeal of a country where tradition and modernity coexist.