Israel begins a pilot plan to return tourists

Work is scheduled to begin next week, with a trial plan to allow tourists to enter Israel. Since March 2020, Israel has closed its doors to tourism, but in light of the encouraging coronavirus infection statistics, it has been decided to open up a bit through a pilot scheme whereby only groups of tourists who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will be done. Allowed to enter the country. According to figures provided by Tourism Minister Orit Farkas Hacohen, within nine minutes of registration in the pilot scheme that is opened through notifications to inbound tourism organizers, the quota has been filled and the registration closed. Registration was permitted for twenty groups, on a first-come, first-served basis. Twenty additional groups were registered on the standby list. Each group will include thirty participants with foreign citizenship. Groups will be allowed to come to Israel between May 23 and June 6, and each tourism company can bring one group. Tourism organizers report the increasing pressure to come to Israel, especially among religious tourists from the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. Commenting on the security situation, which casts a shadow over the potential of Israeli tourism, Farkash HaCohen said: “These complex times from a security point of view have a negative impact on the recently begun recovery of the tourism industry from the Coronavirus crisis. “I have taken measures to ensure that the pilot scheme is not delayed, as its importance lies in its very existence. Meanwhile, the Ministry’s staff is working on preparations for the next, more comprehensive phase to allow the entry of tourists to Israel. I see great importance in returning tourists, to rehabilitating industry and restoring the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. Posted by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – on May 20, 2021 © Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2021