Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz, went to participate in the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in which over 4,000 Christian media persons will take part, including representatives of television stations that broadcast to millions of viewers around the world, radio, written press and senior clergy. The fair will open on Tuesday, February 20, in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ministry of Tourism set up a dedicated booth there and works to reveal the Christian tourist experience in Israel to the participants of the conference, and also provides a platform for representatives from Israel, including tourism wholesalers, friend organizations, social organizations, business entrepreneurs and more to create collaborations.
As part of the visit to the USA, the Minister of Tourism and representatives of the ministry will work to promote cooperation with tourism wholesalers and opinion leaders in the Christian world, with the aim of increasing the scope of Christian tourism to Israel.
Minister of Tourism Haim Katz will meet with marketing and media companies specializing in the Christian audience, including the largest evangelical television network in the US – TBN, the SALEM group – one of the most prominent in the field, which appeals to the conservative Christian audience, and more. In addition, he will hold meetings with the InterNova tourism company, one of the largest in the US In and with the CEO of the American Wholesale Association USTOA.
In the opening speech of the fair and in interviews with major media outlets, Minister of Tourism Haim Katz will acknowledge the support of the evangelical community in Israel, and especially after the events of October 7, he will emphasize the fact that the safety of tourists is a top priority, that most Christian tourist areas are operating as usual and that Israel is safe for tourism .
An inbound tourism survey conducted by the Ministry of Tourism in 2023 shows that the United States is the largest source country of tourism to Israel and accounts for almost a third of it. Last year there was an increase of at least 12% in tourist arrivals compared to 2019. The American tourist spends in Israel an amount that is about 50% greater than the average amount spent by another tourist in Israel. Over half of the tourists who come to Israel are Christians (56%). About a fifth (21%) of all tourism to Israel is pilgrimage.
Minister of Tourism Haim Katz: “The year 2024 is marked by religious tourism and solidarity. The NRB fair is a key event to encourage arrival and support in Israel. The American market is the largest and the leader in tourism traffic entering Israel and is significant for the Israeli economy. Demand from the US is at a peak. We must maintain the momentum, and especially in light of the war, encourage as much as possible tourism to Israel.”
