Israel Tour Guides and Organizers Sign New Collective Labor Agreement to Boost Salaries
The Israel Tour Guides Association and tour organizers signed a new collective labor agreement to update salaries and secure industry stability through August 2030.
New Collective Agreement in Tourism Sector
The Israel Tour Guides Association and the Israel Association of Travel Organizers announced on Sunday the signing of a new general collective labor agreement for certified tour guides. The agreement, effective from September 1, 2026, until August 31, 2030, updates industry standards and regulates labor relations between tour operators and guides.
This marks the first collective agreement signed between the parties in seven years, featuring a significant salary update. The contract regulates working hours, overtime pay, work on weekly rest days and holidays, pension contributions, vacation pay, language bonuses, expense reimbursements, accommodation conditions, cancellation policies, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Stabilizing the Industry Amid Uncertainty
Tourism industry officials view the agreement as a crucial step toward providing stability for a sector that has faced severe uncertainty and a sharp decline in inbound tourism in recent years. The regulation aims to preserve professional knowledge, experience, and manpower, creating a foundation for the eventual recovery of tourism to Israel.
In a joint statement, the organizations declared:
"This is an agreement of shared responsibility and long-term vision. It establishes a fair and agreed-upon basis for the work of tour guides and the operations of tour organizers, reflecting our commitment to preserving the human and professional infrastructure of the industry. We will work together to promote an expansion order that will benefit all tour guides, strengthen employers, and help the entire sector return to growth, which is vital for Israel's economy, especially in peripheral regions."
Expanding Standards Nationwide
The signing of the agreement is the first phase of the joint initiative. Moving forward, the parties plan to petition the Ministry of Labor for an expansion order (tzav harchava) to apply these terms to the entire industry, establishing uniform and binding standards for all tour guides.
