In 2019 4.55 million tourists visited Israel, shattering the previous record. The travel industry was expecting the same for 2020, but the pandemic put a stop to that. For the first few months of 2021 international travel is still not what it used to be, but that is about to change. Thanks to the country’s high vaccination rate, Israel has been relaxing their rules and regulations, and business is about to pick up.
As of July 1st, Israel will be open to tourists, as long as the tourists meet certain criteria. While the criteria has yet to be officially confirmed, they are expected to be as follows:
- Tourists who are fully vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca or Johnson and Johnson will be able to enter Israel with a negative PCR corona test taken before the flight, a vaccination certificate, and a PCR test on arrival to Ben Gurion Airport.
- Tourists who are fully vaccinated with vaccines not approved by the USA or European Union will be able to enter Israel with a negative PCR corona test taken before the flight, a vaccination certificate, and a rapid serology test (finger prick) on arrival to Ben Gurion Airport.
- Tourists from high risk countries with a high rate of Covid-19 infections will not be permitted to enter the country under any circumstances. The Government of Israel Ministry of Health lists the countries on their website.
- As of this moment it hasn’t been decided if unvaccinated tourists or tourists who have recovered from Covid-19 will be permitted entry.
Any of this information is of course subject to change at any time and quickly if needed.
You might be asking yourself, what does this all mean? It means that it’s finally time to start planning for the future. It’s time to book your flights and hotels, and get ready to enjoy travel once more. It’s time to dust off your cameras and prepare yourself to make more memories that will last a lifetime. The wait is almost over, and it’s time to visit Israel again.
Start planning for your Easter 2022 Pilgrimage in sunny and beautiful Israel today. E-Mail me at fg@canacreativetravel.com or call 416-249-0972 / 647-457-0972.
Freweini Belai Ghile