Israel will welcome back small tour groups this month
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Israel will once again welcome small tour groups from select countries this month, according to Reuters.
Groups of between five and 30 people who can prove they are fully vaccinated will be allowed to visit starting Sept. 19, according to the tourism ministry. Travelers must be from countries on Israel’s green, yellow and orange travel lists. At this time, neither visitors from countries on the red list, which includes Mexico, nor individual travelers can participate.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Because individual tourists are still unable to visit Israel, being part of a tour group is the only way to visit the country at the moment. Solo visitors have not been allowed to visit Israel for nonessential reasons since the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020, with the only exceptions being for people who are visiting family who live in Israel.
Right now, the U.S. is on Israel’s orange travel list. That means if you are fully vaccinated and cleared to travel to Israel, you will have to quarantine for 24 hours or isolate until the results of a COVID-19 test taken upon arrival come back negative (whichever is first).
Reuters reported that travelers participating in the new small-group tour program will have to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test that was taken within 72 hours of arrival in Israel and take a serological test at the airport in Tel Aviv (TLV). This is in addition to proof of having received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months — or a booster shot.
More than half of Israel’s population has already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and while the U.S. debates the need for booster shots, 2.5 million people in Israel have already received a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Still, the country saw a major outbreak of the delta variant in August, which forced the country to halt its efforts to resume tourism. Before the program was suspended, more than 2,000 people traveled to Israel in tour groups.
It is unclear when individual tourists will be allowed to return to Israel, but the timeline will depend on how the coronavirus situation develops in Israel and across the globe.
Featured image by Xinhua News Agency for Getty Images.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first three months of card membership.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants with your card within the first 3 months of membership.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.