UK lifts Israel travel warning in major boost for summer tourism
Most of country now open to British visitors after Foreign Office eases restrictions imposed during Iran conflict
British tourists can once again travel to most of Israel after the UK government lifted its blanket warning against visiting the country, in a move expected to boost summer travel and reconnect families separated by months of disruption.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its guidance on Wednesday, ending its previous advice against all travel to Israel following the continued cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Under the revised advice, most of Israel is now open to travel. However, the FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Gaza as well as parts of northern Israel, including the Golan Heights, and against all but essential travel to parts of the West Bank.
The change is likely to be welcomed across the Jewish community, where many families have postponed visits to relatives in Israel or cancelled planned trips during the conflict.
It also clears a major hurdle for the tourism industry, as travel insurance is often unavailable when the Foreign Office advises against visiting a destination.
Israel’s tourism sector has gradually resumed operations in recent months, with hotels, visitor attractions, museums, national parks and restaurants reopening across the country.
Flights between the UK and Tel Aviv have also begun to recover, with airlines including El Al and Wizz Air currently operating services to Ben Gurion Airport.
Michael Ben-Baruch, director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism UK, welcomed the announcement.
“There is no doubt that it’s been a challenging period for Israel’s tourism sector, and the recent conflict has created further disruption. However, we welcome the news today of the change in FCDO advice, which paves the way for a normalisation of tourism back to Israel from the UK this summer and beyond.”
The updated guidance comes as Israel looks to rebuild international visitor numbers after a prolonged period of regional instability and travel disruption.
Travellers are still being urged to check the latest Foreign Office advice before booking or travelling, particularly if planning to visit areas where restrictions remain in force.
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