tourism in Israel

People participate in the annual Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv, on June 14, 2019 (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

June 14, 2019, 9:07 am

With glitz and glamor, Tel Aviv celebrates Mideast’s largest Pride parade

250,000 expected at annual event that concludes month of LGBTQ activities; major streets closed; top activist says while march is happy, discrimination is ongoing

By TOI staff

Actor Neil Patrick Harris, the 2019 International Pride Ambassador, in Tel Aviv on June 13, 2019. (courtesy Tel Aviv municipality)

June 13, 2019, 2:37 pm

How I met your city: Neil Patrick Harris hosts Friday’s Tel Aviv Pride Parade

Quarter of a million people expected to turn White City into rainbow for annual extravaganza

By Melanie Lidman

A pool in a pool gives new legs to the term "pool shark" at the recently renovated Dan Caesarea hotel in Caesarea on May 21, 2019. (TOI Staff/Times of Israel)

May 21, 2019, 7:59 pm

Dan dives into swankier market with revamped Caesarea hotel

Dan Caesarea reopens after 8 months of renovations, as part of luxury hotel chain’s new strategy to attract younger generation with sleeker options

By TOI staff

A picture taken on May 7, 2019, shows the beach in Tel Aviv ahead of the city's hosting of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. (Jack Guez/AFP)

May 15, 2019, 10:01 am

Tel Aviv eyes tourism boon with ‘amazing’ Eurovision week

Israel’s economic hub hopes the influx of tourists to its beaches, nightlife and ancient quarters will spark new interest, and lucrative new hosting opportunities

By Jonah Mandel

'Star' actress Jude Demorest in Jerusalem on April 11, 2019. (Courtesy/ America's Voices in Israel)

April 12, 2019, 10:53 pm

‘Star’ actress Jude Demorest says Israel visit ‘reaffirmed’ her Christian faith

Lead actress on Fox network drama baptized in Jordan River during ‘powerful and inspiring’ pilgrimage to Holy Land

By Jessica Steinberg

Illustrative. An airplane taking off from Eilat's airport, December 2012. (Moshe Shai/ Flash90/ File)

March 18, 2019, 9:51 pm

Eilat city airport closes for good after final departure

Ramon takes over as main airport serving southern resort city; some locals bemoan losing conveniently placed old airport

By Ori Lewis

A 1930s hydroelectric power station at Naharayim on the Jordan River, January 29, 2019. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

March 13, 2019, 12:42 pm

At bloodied Isle of Peace, some Israelis still hope to bridge divide with Jordan

22 years after Jordanian soldier massacred 7 Israeli schoolgirls, locals believe quiet diplomacy can yet save access to border enclave that turned from symbol of amity to enmity

By Melanie Lidman

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 at the official opening ceremony of Ramon airport, 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