Israeli health minister: Vaccinated tourists can visit after 23 May

Vaccinated Brits will be able to travel to Israel after 23 May, its health ministry has announced.

Tourists will need to undergo two different coronavirus tests, a basic one before boarding a flight and after landing, and a second upon leaving Ben Gurion Airport, to confirm a vaccination or recovery from Covid.

According to Jerusalem Post, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said: “Israel is the first vaccinated state, and the citizens of Israel are the first to enjoy it”.

“After we have opened up the economy, it is time to carefully and thoughtfully facilitate tourism. The opening of tourism is an important line for one of the industries that was particularly damaged in the year of coronavirus. We will continue to examine the relief at all times in accordance with the morbidity data.”

Minister of Tourism, Orit Farkash-Hacohen said: “I am pleased to give this important first step to the tourism industry. It is time that Israel’s unique advantage as a safe and healthy country start to assist it in recovering from the economic crisis, and not only serve other countries’ economies.

“Only opening the skies for international tourism will truly revive the tourism industry, including restaurants, hotels, sites, tour guides, busses and others looking to work and provide for their families. I will continue to work for the full opening of tourism to Israel, which will greatly assist the Israeli economy and create workplaces for many Israelis.”

Israel has led the world in vaccinating its citizens, with 60 percent of the country’s adult population having had at least one dose.

The UK has delivered almost 32 million of the first dose of the vaccination.