Filipino tourists can now enjoy everything Israel can offer, albeit they have to comply with many travel requirements.
ISRAEL opened its borders to fully vaccinated individuals on November 1 allowing tourists to once again reach Bethlehem following a pilot reopening program in May.
Tourists who have received their second dose of vaccine against Covid-19 or can show proof of recovery within the past six months, may travel to Israel individually or as a group.
“We have been awaiting this moment, to bring back international travelers into our country, for a very long time now,” said Yoel Razvozov, Israel’s Minister of Tourism.
Requirements for entry of foreign nationals include the following:
1. They did not stay in any red destination in the 14 days before arrival in Israel.
2. They are vaccinated with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and are recognized in Israel such as Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm.
3. Those for whom there is no any other hindrance to their arrival in Israel.
4. Those whose medical insurance covers coronavirus infection during their stay in Israel.
Effective November 15, the Sputnik-V vaccine shall also be recognized in Israel but will require positive test results in a serological test administered in Israel.
Travelers will be quarantined in a hotel “until results return or 24 hours pass — the lesser of the two”.
Recognition of a recovery or vaccination status from abroad in Israel means the option for reduced isolation upon arrival and for issuing a Green Pass.
Razvozov also clarified that if the last vaccine shot was administered more than six months from the time of departure, the country considers them unvaccinated and will have to take a booster.
Filipinos are allowed visa-free entry to Israel but must secure a "special entry permit", which had been required from all foreign nationals following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Those found forging documents may be deported, taken into an isolation motel (for Covid positive individuals), or be denied entry to Israel for 3-5 years.
More of the travel process and other required documents can be accessed through Israel's Ministry of Health website.
"The Philippines is a Christian country and I think people are very keen to travel to the Holy Land and we would be very happy to see more tourists to come and visit," said Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss.
Fluss also told the Philippine News Agency that they are working with Philippine Airlines to mount direct flights between Manila and Tel Aviv by April 2022.
"It was supposed to start last month, October 2021, and it was postponed. I'm going to meet them and I really hope that it will start in April," he said.
Tags: #travel, #tourism, #Israel, #Bethlehem