Israeli tourism industry slowly coming back to life. Again.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, 34,500 tourists entered Israel in September compared to 15,100 this month a year ago
As Israel’s COVID-19 infection rate and the number of people hospitalized from the virus in serious condition drops after a spike late this summer, the Ministry of Tourism is working on a plan to allow vaccinated individual tourists into the country beginning in November.
Tourists – with pre-approved proof of vaccination and health declaration forms – have been allowed to enter, but only in groups under a pilot program that began in late May. Even that was shut down, however, in mid-August when Israel entered its fourth wave of COVID infections.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, 34,500 tourists entered Israel in September compared to 15,100 this month a year ago. But that is still 91.5% less than September 2019 – a record year for tourism – when 405,000 tourists visited Israel in that month.
“The Israel Ministry of Tourism is working on an outline to allow individual vaccinated tourists (FITs), not traveling in groups, to visit Israel from the beginning of November, in order to rehabilitate the tourism industry and to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of people working in the industry can earn a living,” the Tourism Ministry said in a statement today.
Nicole Jansezian is a journalist, travel documentarian and cultural entrepreneur based in Jerusalem. She serves as the Communications Director at CBN Israel and is the former news editor and senior correspondent for ALL ISRAEL NEWS. On her YouTube channel she highlights fascinating tidbits from the Holy Land and gives a platform to the people behind the stories.
