“Israel is open & safe,” says Ministry of Tourism official in letter to partners

A top official at Israel’s Ministry of Tourism says the country has “reopened” for tourism with a “firm commitment” to traveller safety.

In a June 26 letter to partners that was shared with Canadian trade media today (June 27), Dani Shahar, director general of Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, acknowledged that clients may be “hesitant” to visit Israel, which has actively been at war since 2023, especially in recent weeks.

However, despite recent high-profile events, organized tours are currently taking place throughout Israel, and being conducted “with uncompromising attention to safety, well-being, and traveller comfort,” Shahar writes.

“At the Ministry of Tourism, we see this as a profound expression of trust — in our spirit and in our commitment to the safety of our guests,” he writes. “The renewed activity is also reflected in flight schedules: leading international airlines have resumed their routes to Israel, and demand from visitors around the world is on the rise.”

Following an intense 12-day war between Israel and Iran, where the two countries exchanged air strikes with each other, Israel’s main international airport, Ben-Gurion International, resumed full operations on Wednesday (June 25) following a ceasefire deal.

El Al, the flag carrier of Israel, is expected to resume full operations starting next week. Air France is set to resume flights between Paris and Tel Aviv starting July 7, reports the Times of Israel. Lufthansa is suspending its flights to Tel Aviv until and including July 31. 

From Canada, Air Canada has postponed service between Canada and Israel to Sept. 8, 2025.

Tourist & heritage sites are open

Despite regional conflicts, including Israel’s ongoing fight with Hamas in Gaza, it appears the nation is eager to revive its tourism efforts.

In his letter, Minister Shahar said it’s possible to visit Israel while maintaining “the highest standards of a quality and safe travel experience.”

“Tourist and heritage sites in Israel are open to the public, and Israeli tourism professionals are eagerly awaiting visitors,” he writes.

The Ministry of Tourism says it continues to closely monitor developments “in full cooperation with all relevant bodies.”

“We are committed to transparency and ongoing communication with you — our partners in Israel and worldwide — and are happy to provide you with any information you may need,” Shahar writes.

To end his letter, and to “strengthen your confidence,” Shahar ends with: “Israel is open, safe, and ready to welcome tourists from around the world — responsibly and warmly.”

Canada says no

Canada's travel advice page still places Israel at the highest risk level. Canadians are being advised to avoid all travel to Israel "due to ongoing hostilities with Iran." 

"The security situation can deteriorate rapidly," the advisory reads. 

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