Israel is focusing on a July start for the entire reopening of the nation to tourists fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
After the first group trips beginning at the end of May, individual visits could possibly be allowed in July, Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen mentioned at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
“Practice makes perfect,” she mentioned.
She mentioned it was time to exploit the great advantage Israel had “as a healthy and vaccinated destination.”
Israel had virtually sealed itself off immediately after the coronavirus pandemic started. Foreigners were only allowed to enter in exceptional cases.
The tourism industry is an important economic factor for the nation and had suffered greatly from the consequences of the crisis.
In mid-April, the Mediterranean nation announced a gradual reopening for tourists.
Initially, groups are to be allowed entry from May 23. These visits could be monitored more simply, mentioned Farkash-Hacohen.
Prerequisites include vaccinations approved by the FDA and EMA drug authorities, a PCR test before departure, and a serological test on arrival.
The minister announced that Israel would be launching large-scale campaigns in Dubai, London and New York to woo individuals willing to travel. There are already many vaccinated individuals in those places.
The nation, with a population of just more than 9 million, has been successfully implementing a vaccination campaign since 19 December, with more than half the population now fully vaccinated. The number of new infections and serious sicknesses has fallen sharply.
Parallel to the progress of the vaccination campaign, the government has started with gradual relaxations of coronavirus restrictions.