Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu bids farewell to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Ben-Gurion International Airport in July. Photo: Kobi Gideon / GPO via Netanyahu’s Facebook page.

The number of Indian tourists visiting Israel is said to be surging following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Jewish state earlier this summer.

An Israeli tourism official quoted by Indian media outlets during a recent visit to the subcontinent stated his country was hoping to welcome 100,000 tourists from India next year.

Modi’s July trip to Israel, Hassan Madah — the director of the Israeli Tourism Ministry’s India section — noted, delivered a “positive message.”

According to Madah, 44,672 Indians traveled to Israel in 2016 and the number for 2017 was expected to rise to around 55,000.

Reaching the ambitious goal of 100,000 for 2018 will likely be contingent on the finalization of a deal to launch direct Air India flights between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.

Israel and India are currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations. Ties between the two countries have flourished in recent years and Modi’s tour of Israel last month was the first ever by a sitting Indian prime minister.