tourism in Israel

Artist's impression of cable cars crossing Jerusalem's Hinnom Valley, from a promotional video posted to YouTube.

January 29, 2019, 7:00 pm

Israel advances controversial cable car to Jerusalem’s Old City

Official notices expected to appear in newspapers on Friday, launching start of 60-day period for public objections

By Sue Surkes

Tel Aviv properties search page for AirBnB. Tel Aviv will raise taxes for short-term accommodation provided by services like Airbnb to match an increase in long-term rentals. (Screen capture, AirBnB)

January 21, 2019, 10:34 pm

Tel Aviv to hit Airbnb hosts with new tax

White City joins Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam in reining in short-term rent providers

By AFP and TOI staff

The new Ramon Airport during the official opening ceremony, January 21, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 21, 2019, 6:54 pm

Jordan protests Israel’s new Ramon airport, claims it could violate airspace

Kingdom says it ‘reserves all options’ in responding to southern airfield located near border, urges international action

By AFP and Ori Lewis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the official opening ceremony of the new Ramon airport, named in memory of Ilan and Asaf Ramon, near the southern Israeli city of Eilat, on January 21, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 21, 2019, 12:39 pm

Israel opens new international airport, named for astronaut Ramon, near Red Sea

$500 million facility meant to promote tourism in Eilat, handle two million passengers annually, serve as emergency alternative if TLV’s Ben-Gurion can’t be used during conflict

By Ori Lewis and AFP

An aerial view of the Israeli resort city of Eilat on October 21, 2015. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)

January 9, 2019, 11:43 pm

Eilat high on NY Times’ list of top destinations for 2019

In Israel’s first-ever appearance on annual travel list, paper hails diving opportunities and luxury resorts in ‘newly accessible’ resort city

By TOI staff

File: Tourists look out over Jerusalem's Old City, as seen from the rooftop of the Austrian hospice, on a foggy winter day, January 2, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

December 29, 2018, 4:39 pm

Israel saw record-breaking 4 million tourists in 2018, says tourism ministry

Tourism Minister Yariv Levin hails ‘significant revolution in marketing Israel’ abroad

By TOI staff

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Old City forms the backdrop to a tour guide holding up a picture of the ancient Jewish Temple. (Nati Shohat/FLASH90)

October 8, 2018, 1:06 pm

Riled tour guides warn new bill could skew tourists’ Israel experience

Legislation that would allow non-licensed guides for pilgrims and some foreign groups, set for Knesset debate this month, would lower standards, threaten livelihoods, guides say

By Sue Surkes

El Al flight seen at the airstrip at the Ben Gurion International Airport. February 26, 2015. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)

July 10, 2018, 12:57 am

Record 2.1 million tourists visit Israel in first half of 2018

Ministry data shows country earned more than NIS 12 billion from tourism between January and June

By Michael Bachner

Detail from Pensive David Looking Out On His City scene in new Tower of David King David Night Experience, March 2018 (Naftali Hilger)

March 12, 2018, 2:52 pm

In Jerusalem’s Old City, futuristic hi-tech illuminates ancient biblical past

Tower of David Museum aims to conquer interfaith audiences with artistic ‘King David’ Night Experience, opening April 1

By Renee Ghert-Zand

February 11, 2018, 2:42 pm

Bill Slott

40 years of Elvis in the Judean Hills

What a little diner paying tribute to the King says about Israel’s place in the global arena

February 8, 2018, 2:48 pm

Gabi Berger

Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market is eye-popping

When’s the last time you had a chance to eat at a hummus joint built to look like a synagogue?

A tweeted composite picture that shows, at left, a picture of Israeli Jew Ben Tzion (wearing green) inside the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, and at right, the Saudi royal family with the words, "the cursed Saudi tree." (Twitter)

November 22, 2017, 2:30 pm

Israeli Jew’s ‘peace visit’ to Saudi mosque sparks Arabic Twitter storm

Though he said he felt welcome and stressed he visited in a private capacity, many protest Ben Tzion’s visit to Medina, see it as ostensible sign of warming Saudi-Israel ties

By Dov Lieber

Ben Tzion at the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, Saudi Arabia (courtesy)

November 21, 2017, 2:51 pm

From Qom to Medina: Israeli Jew visits holy sites across Muslim world

Some in Arab social media fume after Ben Tzion posts photos of himself sporting Hebrew letters in Saudi Arabia’s Mosque of the Prophet. I come as ‘a friend,’ he stresses

By Raphael Ahren

A woman sunbathing at the Setai hotel on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel, August 25, 2017. (Andrew Tobin)

August 29, 2017, 2:19 pm

Hosting Conan, new hotel aims to make Sea of Galilee luxury destination

High-end Setai complex hopes to change the image of famous lake where Jesus is said to have walked on water

By Andrew Tobin

Foreign tourists train with a wooden gun as they participate in a two hour anti-terror course at the Caliber 3 shooting range, near the West Bank settlement of Efrat on July 18, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / MENAHEM KAHANA)

August 17, 2017, 2:03 am

Israeli company offers ‘anti-terrorism’ adventure to tourists

In settlement of Efrat, foreigners are taught to fire weapons, tackle assailants to help them understand Israel’s counter-terrorism challenge

By Michael Blum