Israel Strengthens Tourism Ties with South Korea

The seminar, organized by the Israel Government Tourism Office (IGTO) in Seoul, brought together around 200 influential Protestant church leaders from across South Korea, including the heads of major congregations. They were joined by key partners from the local travel industry, all gathering at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul.

South Korea has long been considered a high-potential tourism market for Israel. In 2019, roughly 60,000 South Koreans visited the country, a number the Ministry hopes to surpass in the coming years.

Israel’s Ambassador to Korea, Rafael Harpaz, opened the event with remarks thanking the church community for its steadfast support of Israel. He also noted that he has been in direct contact with Korean Air, which has expressed interest in resuming flights to Israel, an encouraging sign for renewed connectivity.

Noga Sher-Greco, who serves as the Ministry’s Director of Religious Tourism Marketing, emphasized that Israel is open, safe, and fully operating for visitors. She presented current data and trends reflecting the recovery of religious tourism after the war, highlighted new initiatives and attractions launched since COVID-19, and shared updates on major sites expected to open soon. She also broadcast Pastor Kim’s latest message from the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, a site deeply meaningful to many Protestant Christians who believe it to be the location of Jesus’ crucifixion.

The seminar also featured an exhibition of eight Korean travel agencies specializing in pilgrimage tourism to Israel. They offered tailored packages, group-tour consultations, and insights into upcoming itineraries. Several airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, and Uzbekistan Airways, participated as well, presenting their updated flight schedules to Israel and expressing interest in expanding air-route cooperation.

This event didn’t stand alone. About a month beforehand, IGTO Seoul ran a dedicated training webinar for Korean travel agents, giving them updated information about the situation in Israel and helping them adapt their packages for Christian communities eager to visit the Holy Land.

As part of its long-term strategy, the Ministry of Tourism is continuing to strengthen its outreach across Asia, with South Korea emerging as one of the most engaged and promising partners.