Israel to reopen international travel for fully vaccinated tourists from May 23

Israel government on April 13 announced that vaccinated foreign tourists can visit the country from May 2021. The country had closed international borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year. Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen announced the news on Twitter that the country now allows vaccinated people to enter Afghanistan.

The Tourism Minister said that the limited tourist 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.

Yosi Fattal, head of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association said that the industry has welcomed the government’s decision. He has raised concern over the speed and implementation of the decision. He said that they fail 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 recognising vaccines and not rely on serological tests.