Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen has announced that Israel will open the country for tourism from May 23, for all foreign tourists. Any foreign national who has got his vaccine jab will be allowed to the country. The Tourism Minister said that the limited tourists will be allowed to visit Israel from May 23. The individual visitors will be allowed at a later stage. The visitors have to undergo a coronavirus test before boarding the flight to Israel. The tourists must present a serological test to prove that they have been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine.
Israel faced an economic setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restrictions on public movement in the country. Most sectors of the economy were allowed to reopen after they carried out vaccination program in recent months. The tourism industry was badly affected due to coronavirus, as the tourists were not allowed to visit the country. Yosi Fattal, head of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association said that the industry has welcomed the government’s decision, but also raised concern over the speed and implementation of the decision. He said that people working in tourism sector find it hard to understand why it is so much easier for a vaccinated Israeli who has taken the same vaccine as a tourist, to travel the same country. He called on the government to adopt international standards for recognizing vaccines and not rely on serological tests.
Israel has reported around 830,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 6,000 people have lost their lives due to the virus. In Israel, more than 1 million people have already received the first dose of the vaccine while 4,950,250 people have been fully vaccinated. After the launch of the vaccination drive, the COVID-19 cases and deaths have seen a fall in the country. “After opening the economy, it is time to allow tourism in a careful and calculated manner,” Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said in a joint statement with the Tourism Ministry.
Israel suffered a major economic blow due to the coronavirus pandemic. In recent months, it has carried out highly successful vaccination program that has allowed it to reopen most sectors of the economy. But the tourism industry, limited only to serving Israelis, remains blighted. The decision to welcome back international travelers after a year is expected to give a boost to the tourism sector which is the fifth major sector in the country.
