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Currently, Israel still applies a policy of granting entry only to those who have been fully vaccinated or have a certificate proving they have recovered from Covid-19.
However, according to new regulations effective this March, travelers entering Israel will only need to undergo two antigen (PCR) tests: one before boarding the plane and one upon arrival in Israel.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said: "We are seeing a significant decrease in the number of cases over the past few days, so this is the time to gradually reopen sectors that we were previously among the first to close around the world… We now have a firm grasp of the situation and will react quickly if we encounter a new variant."
In March 2020, Israel became the first country in the world to close its borders to foreigners. Photo: Reuters
The country has since gradually lifted some of its pandemic restrictions, leading to a slow and still low return of tourist numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels. In January, Israel welcomed approximately 46,000 foreign visitors, a significant increase compared to the 7,800 visitors for the entire year of 2021, but still considerably lower than the 333,000 visitors who visited the country in January 2020 alone – a period before the pandemic intensified globally.
