Government to grant aid to COVID-battered tourism industry

15 December 2021, 7:49 pm

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Tourists and their guide at the Cardo in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City in July 2019, months before the coronavirus would shutter Israeli tourism. (Hadas Parush/Flash 90)

The government announces a plan to provide financial support to the tourism industry amid its struggles in the face of the COVID Omicron variant.

The prime minister as well as the finance, tourism and economy ministers agree to a full package of support, which includes up to NIS 30,000 toward training and scholarships for each tourism industry employee who opts to switch to another vocation.

The aid will apply to tour guides, travel agents and others who have been negatively impacted by the ban of foreign entry into Israel.

Financial aid will also be granted to hotels whose incomes have dropped by more than 40% due to the new restrictions. The ministers also say they will fund 25,000 free tours for locals around Israel in order to provide NIS 25 million to local tour guides.