3,000 Christian Tourists Arrive in Jerusalem for IACD Peace Conference Boosting Local Tourism

Around 3,000 Christian tourists from 50 countries gathered in Jerusalem from July 21 to 24, 2026, for the IACD Peace Conference organized by the Asian Institute for Cultural Development. The event, held at the International Convention Center (Binyanei HaUma), focused on promoting dialogue between cultures, faith, and peace under the theme "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem." Participants also toured heritage, cultural, and religious sites across Israel before and after the conference.

The visit is expected to generate at least 7,000 hotel nights in Jerusalem, benefiting the city's hospitality, transportation, dining, and tourism services. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism supported the delegation's visit, including funding for guides and hospitality. Michael Yitzhakov, CEO of the Ministry of Tourism, welcomed the attendees at the opening ceremony, calling their presence "a moving expression of trust, friendship, and solidarity," emphasizing the importance of firsthand experience in Israel to foster goodwill and justice.

This influx of tourists comes amid a slow recovery in inbound tourism to Israel. In June 2026, approximately 82,000 tourists arrived, marking a 48% increase compared to June 2025 but still 78% below the peak of 365,000 arrivals in June 2019. From January to June 2026, about 430,000 tourists entered Israel, a 30% decline from 611,000 in the same period last year. The Ministry of Tourism estimates that total tourist arrivals in 2026 will reach around 900,000, significantly below the 4.6 million visitors recorded in 2019, Israel's record tourism year.