The “plan for the entry of unprotected tourist groups into Israel”, effective November 9, pertains to travellers who have been double-vaccinated more than 6 months prior to entry. It gives a quota of 2,000 such tourists per day, in group sizes between five and 40 participants.
At the start of the month, Israel already opened up to vaccinated visitors after 20 months of closure.
Foreigners can now enter Israel with a negative Covid test from the previous 72 hours and if their last vaccine dose was administered less than six months prior to entry. Unvaccinated children remain subject to quarantine rules.
Before Israel imposed the first of several coronavirus closures in March 2020, tourism had been growing rapidly. A record 4.6 million travellers visited the country in 2019, an 11% increase on 2018.
Since the recent détente between Israel and a number of Middle Eastern nations that previously had not recognised the state, Israeli Tourism authorities have been working with international tour operators in order to include the destination in broader Middle Eastern circuits in coming years. Such a move is set to greatly boost tourism figures in coming years.
