Among the delegations participating this year were Greece, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Taiwan, Romania, Kenya, and Slovakia. Additionally, ambassadors from dozens of countries around the world attended, including: Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Norway, Panama, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, and Vietnam.
At the opening ceremony, Tourism Minister Chaim Katz noted that "The holding of the IMTM fair for the 31st time is a living testament to the resilience of Israeli tourism, even in challenging times. This is an immense source of pride. 60 countries were supposed to participate in this conference, but the Houthi attack reduced the number to 30. It’s clear that the tourism industry is the first to be affected and the last to recover. We tried and succeeded in helping the incoming tourism organizers last year. We will make efforts in the coming months to organize events in Israel for Israeli tourists and guests.”
Lior Galfand, Chairman of the Incoming Tourism Chamber and organizer of the 2025 IMTM International Tourism Exhibition said that: "Every worker organizing incoming tourism brought in $1.1 million in foreign currency, and every 30 tourists create a job. The collapse of 150 companies in the Incoming Tourism Chamber to Israel and the layoff of 1,000 workers who remained in these companies, out of the 2,500 employed before the war broke out on October 7, will have consequences that no one wants to experience during their tenure. Tourism to Israel is a strategic asset of the highest order. Only when tourists return here will Israelis be welcomed abroad! We rely on you, Minister, and although I sadly have to say this for the second time from this podium – we still believe that at the next fair, we will be able to stand here proudly and report our success in returning incoming tourism to Israel!"
Eyal Shmueli, organizer of the 2025 IMTM International Tourism Exhibition: "Despite the challenges and the complex security situation, we are proud to open the 31st IMTM International Tourism Exhibition. We are holding the exhibition with determination and commitment to provide the tourism industry with the most impressive and effective platform. The entire sector is facing a challenging period, but it is precisely from this that an opportunity for a significant reboot has arisen, aimed at supporting Israeli tourism, as we see it as a major milestone that can help both small and large businesses. Alongside domestic tourism, representatives from a variety of countries around the world attended the exhibition – countries that repeatedly demonstrate their commitment to connecting with Israel and see Israeli tourists as an important, loyal, and influential audience. They invest resources and maintain an impressive presence, recognizing the economic and cultural contribution of the Israeli audience to the global tourism industry. We are happy and excited to host them here, especially in these times."
IMTM is the annual and oldest event of the tourism industry in Israel, organized by Ortra Ltd. and Israel Travel News, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and supported by the Israel Hotels Association, the Incoming Tourism Organizers Association, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Tourism Association, El Al Airlines, the Travel Channel, and the Israel Travel Agents Association.
IMTM is aimed at all those involved in various tourism sectors – domestic tourism, incoming tourism, as well as countries and tourism entities from abroad. The exhibition regularly features a wide range of Israeli exhibitors: tourism associations from across the country, airlines, hotels, car rental companies, shipping companies, service providers, and various tourism attractions. The exhibition includes professional meetings, accompanying conferences, and a program for invited agents, during which hundreds of decision-makers from around the world come to the fair to market Israel as a tourism destination.
Exhibition website: www.imtm.co.il
Photo credit: Silvia G. Golan
Image (from right to left): Eyal Shmueli, organizer of the IMTM tourism exhibition, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Minister of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, Chaim Katz, Minister of Tourism, Dina Ben-Tal Gennes, CEO of El Al, and Lior Galfand, organizer of the 2025 IMTM International Tourism Exhibition and Chairman of the Incoming Tourism Chamber.
