Israel Ministry of Tourism

What Israel Ministry of Tourism does

The Israel Ministry of Tourism is a government ministry of the State of Israel responsible for promoting inbound international tourism to the country. It operates the official Visit Israel digital portal (israel.travel), which functions as a comprehensive content-driven destination platform covering all major Israeli regions and attractions. The ministry maintains ten regional offices across North America (New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Canada), Latin America (São Paulo, Brazil), and Asia (Beijing, Mumbai, Manila, Seoul), supported by a dedicated staff reachable through official goisrael.gov.il email channels. The legal entity is the Ministry of Tourism (State of Israel), a government state entity with no commercial parent or subsidiaries, operating under the executive branch of the Israeli government.

The core product portfolio consists of 24+ destination and thematic guides on israel.travel spanning Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Dead Sea, Galilee, Negev, Haifa, Nazareth, Safed, Jaffa, Masada, Timna Park, Hula Lake, and Yad Vashem, complemented by thematic guides covering culinary tourism, beach activities, Christian pilgrimage, adventure sports, UNESCO heritage sites, wine tourism, kibbutz hospitality, and nature-based experiences. The platform runs on a conventional WordPress CMS and functions as an information and referral portal rather than a transactional booking system, with booking links directing users to third-party tour operators, airlines, and online travel agencies.

The business model is government-funded through Israeli state budget allocations rather than commercial revenue generation. The ministry's role is demand generation, destination marketing, and B2B relationship management with international tour operators (SITA World Tours, America Israel Tours, Maranatha Tours, Globus, Inspiration Cruises, Festival International Travel), major airlines (El Al, American Airlines, Delta, United, Air Canada), and online travel agencies (Expedia, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor, Kayak). Distribution relies on these channel partners, with the ministry serving as the default planning entry point for international visitors. Customer segments are organized horizontally across Christian pilgrims, leisure tourists, cultural heritage tourists, adventure travelers, vegan/vegetarian travelers, and food and wine tourists.

Name

Israel Ministry of Tourism

Legal name

Ministry of Tourism (State of Israel)

Website

https://israel.travel

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Israel Ministry of Tourism is the State of Israel's government agency promoting inbound international tourism through the israel.travel portal, ten global regional offices, and partnerships with tour operators, airlines, and online travel agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Promotion & Destination Marketing

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Jewish Heritage & Israel Pilgrimage Travel Agencies (THAKAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Pilgrimage & Holy Land Tour Operators (THAKAHAB), History, Heritage & Museum-Focused Study Tours (THAKAGAN), Faith-Based Group Travel (Church/Mosque/Temple) Organizers (THAKAHAH)

Keywords

• Destination marketing services
• Inbound tourism promotion
• Government tourism portal
• Travel information platform
• Destination guides

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tourism Promotion Services: As a government ministry, the Israel Ministry of Tourism operates to promote inbound tourism to Israel rather than generate commercial revenue. The ministry facilitates tourism but does not directly charge visitors. Revenue model is government-funded through taxation and budget allocations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Israel Ministry of Tourism operates the official Visit Israel destination portal (israel.travel), a government-funded information platform that promotes Israel as an international tourism destination. The portal provides comprehensive destination guides for major regions and cities, practical travel information (weather, visas, packing), video content showcasing attractions, and booking connections to partner tour operators and airlines. The Ministry facilitates inbound tourism without directly selling travel services to visitors.

Product overview

The Israel Ministry of Tourism operates the official Visit Israel destination marketing portal (israel.travel) as a comprehensive travel information platform. The site functions as a content-driven destination guide rather than a transactional booking platform, connecting visitors to Israel's diverse regions, attractions, and experiences. The product portfolio encompasses destination guides covering major tourist regions including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Dead Sea, Galilee, Negev Desert, and coastal areas; thematic travel guides addressing culinary tourism, beach activities, religious pilgrimage, adventure sports, UNESCO heritage sites, and nature-based experiences; and practical travel planning resources including weather information, visa requirements, and tour operator connections. The platform serves as the primary digital channel for Israel's international tourism promotion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visit Israel Official Tourism Website The official Israeli government tourism portal providing comprehensive travel information, destination guides, itinerary planning tools, travel deals, and booking connections for international visitors to Israel.
• Jerusalem Destination Guide Comprehensive guide to Jerusalem covering Old City attractions, Western Wall, Temple Mount, museums, neighborhoods, and key cultural landmarks for international visitors.
• Tel Aviv Destination Guide Travel guide covering Tel Aviv beaches, nightlife, culinary scene, markets, Bauhaus architecture, and vibrant urban culture for international leisure travelers.
• Eilat Destination Guide Guide to Eilat resort city covering Red Sea beaches, coral reefs, underwater observatory, dolphin reef, water sports, and desert adventures.
• Galilee Region Guide Guide to Northern Israel's Galilee region covering Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, Nazareth, biblical sites, kibbutz hospitality, vineyards, and culinary experiences.
• Negev Desert Region Guide Guide to Israel's southern desert region covering Ramon Crater, Bedouin experiences, Sde Boker, Be'er Sheva, Timna Park, and desert adventure activities.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites Guide Guide to Israel's six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Masada, White City Tel Aviv, Old Acre, Baha'i Gardens Haifa-Acre, Incense Route Negev cities, and Biblical Tels.
• Visit Israel Mobile Application Mobile application providing tourist information and travel resources for visitors to Israel.
• Israel Wine Country Tours Guide Guide to Israeli wine tourism covering northern vineyards, boutique wineries, wine tastings, festivals, and the wine-making industry.
• Tel Aviv Vegan Destination Guide Guide positioning Tel Aviv as the world's #1 vegan destination, featuring vegan-friendly restaurants and plant-based dining options.

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Festival International TravelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational tour operator selling Holy Land tour packages, offering 7-night trips starting from $1,495. Markets package deals directly through the Ministry's website.
• SITA World TourscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational tour operator offering 7-day Israel Explorer tours with $200 off per couple promotions. Active partner with package offerings displayed on official website.
• America Israel TourscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium 5-star deluxe Holy Land tour operator featuring biblical and historical sites plus modern Israel experiences. Tours featured as top-tier option on Ministry website.
• Maranatha TourscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChristian pilgrimage tour operator specializing in 'Return to Travel' Holy Land tours. 9-day packages departing from San Francisco with winter rates.
• Inspiration Cruises & TourscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChristian group tour operator offering 9-day tours visiting 40+ Holy Land sites with favorite Christian leaders. Featured on Ministry website.
• Globus Family of BrandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor international tour operator offering escorted Israel vacations with $300 per couple savings on select air-inclusive packages. Promoted through Ministry website.
• El Al Israel AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIsrael's national carrier offering nonstop roundtrip flights to Tel Aviv from $859. Direct booking links available through Ministry website.
• American AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor U.S. airline with flights to Tel Aviv. Promoted pricing from $857 through Ministry's flight booking section.
• Delta Air LinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorU.S. carrier offering flights and package deals to Tel Aviv, including flight + 5-6 night hotel packages from $1,046.
• United AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorU.S. airline with flights to Tel Aviv featured with pricing from $1,149 through Ministry booking partners.
• Air CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian national carrier offering flights to Israel from North America. One of approximately ten nonstop daily flights from North America.
• ExpediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor online travel agency offering package deals combining flights and hotels to Tel Aviv, starting from $680 per person for 5-night stays.
• Hotels.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccommodation booking platform featured alongside Ministry website for hotel reservations in Israeli destinations.
• TripAdvisorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading travel review and booking platform partnered for accommodations and attractions listings throughout Israel.
• KayakminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlight search aggregator featured for comparing prices on routes to Israel.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Singapore Tourism Board: National tourism authority of Singapore with global marketing offices and a diversified culinary, cultural, and business-tourism positioning. Functionally equivalent government DMO with comparable event, content, and partner ecosystem.
• VisitBritain: UK national tourism agency promoting inbound travel through content, partnerships, and global trade engagement. Comparable as a heritage-and-culture-driven DMO with strong destination content depth and similar airline/operator partnership model.
• Switzerland Tourism: National tourism board for Switzerland with premium leisure, heritage, and culinary positioning across global markets. Comparable premium DMO with content-led destination marketing and strong international partnership network.
• Tourism New Zealand: New Zealand's national tourism organization with a globally recognized content-led marketing model and strong airline/tour-operator partnerships. Comparable as a country DMO leveraging destination content depth and global trade marketing.
• Brand USA: United States national DMO responsible for driving inbound travel through international marketing, trade shows, and partner integrations. Closely parallel in mission, channel mix (OTAs, airlines, tour operators), and reliance on regional international offices.
• Visit Dubai: Dubai's DMO with global marketing campaigns targeting leisure, luxury, and cultural segments. Functionally equivalent government-backed tourism promoter with heavy reliance on airline partnerships, events, and content-driven destination marketing.
• Tourism Australia: National DMO of Australia operating a global promotion network across consumer marketing, trade partnerships, and regional offices. Directly comparable as a country-level inbound tourism promoter with multi-region footprint, airline/OTA partnerships, and similar destination-content model.
• Turespaña: Spain's national tourism authority operating a global network of tourism offices to promote inbound visits. Comparable heritage-and-culture-driven DMO with similar consumer/trade marketing structure and tour-operator partnership ecosystem.
• Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO): Japan's national DMO operating international offices worldwide to promote inbound tourism through content, partnerships, and trade events. Strong functional parallel given similar heritage/culinary positioning and multi-continent office network.
• Tourism Ireland: All-island DMO promoting inbound tourism to Ireland through international offices in core source markets. Directly comparable mission, B2B trade engagement model, and emphasis on heritage and faith-adjacent cultural segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/visitisrael
• Instagraminstagram.com/visit_israel
• Facebookfacebook.com/goisrael
• Xx.com/IsraelTourism
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/israel-ministry-of-tourism

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Israel Ministry of Tourism