Israel open to jabbed, unjabbed Filipinos

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss has disclosed that vaccinated and unvaccinated Filipino tourists can enter their country visa-free as part of global efforts to revive the economy that had been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years.

Fluss, who was in the city this week for an official visit, said Filipinos, regardless of their vaccination status, are very much welcome to visit Israel without having to go through the difficulties of securing a visa because the Israeli government already embraced a policy of allowing foreigners to visit their country visa-free.

He, however, added that unvaccinated tourists must present to Israeli authorities their valid negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results before being allowed to enter their country to ensure the health and safety not only of their fellow tourists but also the people of Israel.

The ambassador pointed out that Israel already opened its tourist spots and tourist-related activities to other foreigners.

Fluss said he will help promote tourist destinations in Baguio City and Benguet province to the Israelis as part of their contribution for the revival of the local tourist industry.

To Filipino travelers, he recommended guided tours, among other packages: Tel Aviv-Masada-Dead Sea, Tel Aviv-Masada-Ein Gedi-Dead Sea, Jerusalem-Bethlehem-Jerico-Qasr Al-Yahud, Amman-PetraRum-Aqaba-Dead Sea, Tel Aviv-Jerusalem-Bethlehem, Jerusalem-Masada-Dead Sea, Caesarea-Haifa-Akko, Amman-Petra-Wadi Rum-Red Sea-Dead Sea, Jerusalem-Masada National Park-Dead Sea, and Nazareth-Tiberias.

Israel is the first country to have fully vaccinated its citizens against Covid-19 and also the first to have completed booster shots for its senior citizens aside from working on the fourth dose of vaccines for the people.

Fluss said he is confident about the bright prospects for the global economy to recover soonest from the impact of Covid-19.