There’s good news for travellers filled wanderlust who are itching to continue exploring the world even with the current COVID-19 situation. Israel will soon open its doors to foreign tourists with one specific condition: You must be fully vaccinated.
Starting May 23, 2021, Israel will start implementing the first stage of the program by allowing the entry of foreign groups, including Filipinos.
Philippine passport holders can enjoy visa-free entry to Israel for up to a 90-days stay.
Based on the initial outline agreed upon by the Tourism and Health ministries of Israel, a limited number of groups will start to arrive on May 23 and will increase based on the health situation and progress of the program.
Individual travelers will be allowed entry to Israel in the second stage, the timeline of which will be determined by the state of the country’s health situation amid the pandemic.
Under this program, all visitors will be required to undergo a PCR test before boarding the flight from their ports of origin.
Upon arrival at the Ben Gurion International Airport, visitors will undergo a serological test to prove their vaccination. This is a blood test to detect the presence of antibodies against a microorganism.
The Israeli government said discussions are now underway with various countries to reach agreements for vaccine-certificate validation, hoping to do away with the serological test. It likewise assured that a more detailed outline will be released in the coming days.
"Israel is the first vaccinated country, and the citizens of Israel are the first to enjoy this result. After opening the economy, it is time to allow tourism in a careful and calculated manner. Opening the tourism is important for one of the fields most hurt during the COVID year. We will continue to look at easing regulations in accordance with the health situation," said Israel’s Minister of Health Yuli Edelstein.
Israel Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen cites the unique advantage of Israel as a safe and healthy country, being the first country to have successfully vaccinated the majority of its citizens, including thousands of Filipinos working there.
"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," he said.