The Israeli Ministry of Tourism will allocate 43 million shekels to companies engaged in receiving foreign tourists

Of this amount, NIS 35 million will be used to retain key employees of such companies. The Ministry of Tourism will allocate another NIS 8 million through a special fund to support marketing campaigns abroad, participation in tourism exhibitions, professional events and promotion of Israel as a tourist destination.

The Ministry of Tourism notes: after the start of the war on October 7, 2023, 70 million shekels have already been allocated to organizers of receiving foreign tourists. The new mechanism is designed for 15 months – from May 2026 to July 2027 – and is intended to preserve the professional infrastructure of the industry until the tourist flow is restored.

Companies whose turnover from receiving foreign tourists in 2023 was at least 1.5 million shekels and whose income has decreased by at least 70% compared to the corresponding periods of previous years will be eligible for assistance. The assistance will be provided in several tranches.

The state will participate in the remuneration of employees who were engaged in receiving foreign tourists as of April 30, 2026 and who continued to work for the company. The amount of assistance per salary will be up to 93.75% of the lesser of two values ​​- the employee’s actual salary or the average salary in the economy.

Tourism Minister Chaim Katz said that companies involved in receiving foreign tourists are an important link in promoting Israel abroad. According to him, in normal times, tourism provides income to thousands of families and brings the state tens of billions of shekels a year, so during a crisis it is necessary to preserve professional personnel, accumulated knowledge and business connections that will allow the industry to recover after the end of hostilities.