Jerusalem, Jun 25 (IANS): India and Israel have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost their bilateral ties in the tourism sector, with Israel opening a tourism office in Mumbai and increasing the number of El Al flights to India.

The pact was signed between Indian and Israeli tourism ministers Sunday, Xinhua reported.

The agreement aims to increase tourism to and from Israel, India by half in the next three years, it was announced here during a press conference of Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov and his Indian counterpart Minister Subodh Kant Sahai.

With over 40,000 Indian visitors coming to Israel per year, and equal number of Israeli citizens travelling to India, both the ministers said that they saw an opportunity to expand the tourism market between the two countries.

To double the number, Israel will open a new tourism office in Mumbai and will construct 200,000 new hotel rooms as well as increase the number of El Al flights, the Israeli air carrier, from three times a week to one per day.

"We are also looking into opening new El Al destinations, such as Kolkata and New Delhi, and to convince other air carriers to open more routes between our countries," Misezhnikov said.