TPS: Israel Tourism Chief Boosting Ties at Paris Global Trade Show
Israel's Tourism Ministry Director-General Michael Izhakov is attending IFTM in Paris to strengthen ties with France, a key source of tourists, and promote the.
Jerusalem, 16 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Tourism Ministry Director-General Michael Izhakov is representing Israel this week at IFTM, France’s leading international tourism Trade Show, running for three days in Paris and expected to draw some 30,000 visitors and over 1,400 exhibiting brands.
France remains Israel’s second-largest source of incoming tourism after the U.S., with more than 176,000 French tourists visiting in 2025 and 81,500 through August 2026; 57 weekly direct flights currently connect Paris to Israel, rising to over 70 in winter.
Izhakov met French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, Cypriot and Uzbek counterparts, and airline representatives including EasyJet and Air France at Israel’s 72-square-meter pavilion, which features Israeli tourism companies, culinary demonstrations, and Hebrew temporary tattoos.
Izhakov called France “an important strategic market” and said the ministry aims to “bring French tourists back to Israel” as its “I AM ISRAEL” campaign prepares to launch in France this fall.