Israel tourism

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan (left) appears with journalist Peter Greenberg on a safari in Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania for the television show “The Royal Tour.” (Karen Ballard via AP)

May 21, 2022, 12:03 pm

7 years after Netanyahu played host, unique travel show back with another top guide

In each episode, a different country’s leader serves as tour guide to US journalist Peter Greenberg; following pause for pandemic, latest show visits Tanzania

By David Bauder

Israelis cross into Egypt through the Taba Border Crossing, in the southern Israeli city of Eilat, April 17, 2022. (Flash 90)

April 17, 2022, 7:34 pm

Exodus slowed: Huge Passover congestion at airport and crossings to Egypt, Jordan

Long lines reported at Aqaba border; Amman shuts down terminal without prior warning due to masses of people, stranding hundreds of Israelis

By TOI staff

Arriving travelers at Ben Gurion Airport on December 19, 2021. (Flash90)

February 20, 2022, 6:38 pm

Israel to open to unvaccinated tourists starting March 1

Under new plan, tourists must submit to pre- and post-flight PCR tests, but returning Israelis will no longer need to show a negative COVID test before flying home

By TOI staff

Travelers in the departure hall at Ben Gurion International Airport on February 13, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

February 19, 2022, 11:26 am

Prices rise as Israelis rush to book foreign vacations with travel rules set to ease

Surge in planned trips abroad after Health Ministry recommends scrapping quarantine for unvaccinated children who travel, reducing testing burden

By TOI staff

Exterior front of the Nabi Musa shrine. (Shmuel Bar-Am)

February 12, 2022, 6:46 am

Explore the Medieval shrines left behind by a ruling class of warriors

The Israeli landscape is dotted with architecture from the Mamelukes, a group of slaves who were taught the art of war before turning on their masters and ruling the region

By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am

Old structures from the original kibbutz in this photo taken along the historic Neve Ilan Forest walk. (Shmuel Bar-Am)

January 15, 2022, 9:18 am

Ancient and not-so-ancient history meet in the blossoming Neve Ilan Forest

Take a walk in the lush hills just outside Jerusalem, where structures of a kibbutz from pre-state Israel and an ancient Hasmonean fortress sit together among the wildflowers

By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am

Travelers arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, on December 22, 2021. (Flash90)

January 3, 2022, 12:44 pm

Israel set to reopen Sunday to some vaccinated tourists; US and UK still out

Recommendations subject to Knesset committee approval; quarantine for vaccinated returning Israelis to be shortened

By TOI staff

Workers from the tourism sector, calling for financial support from the Israeli government, protest outside Ben Gurion International Airport, on December 13, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

December 19, 2021, 2:01 pm

Daily Briefing Dec. 19 – Tech firms celebrate best year as tour guides bemoan fate

Military correspondent Judah Ari Gross discusses last week’s terrorist attack, followed by Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben-David on the tourism industry and tech exits

By TOI staff

A group of tourists in Israel led by tour guide Yoav Rotem. (Courtesy)

December 16, 2021, 5:11 pm

‘They are burying us’: Tourism sector workers fume at government offer to ‘retrain’

Tour guides and operators say they feel abandoned, after 2 years of COVID-19, by a leadership pushing them to find other jobs

By Ricky Ben-David

Arriving travelers at Ben Gurion Airport, November 28, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

December 15, 2021, 10:59 pm

France, Spain, UAE added to no-fly list, with US reportedly being considered as well

Government introduces compensation package for tourism sector further decimated by Omicron variant restrictions, including offers of up to $9,500 for those who shift industries

By TOI staff

December 15, 2021, 1:46 pm

Daily Briefing Dec. 15 – The human toll the virus has taken on Israeli tourism

Health correspondent Nathan Jeffay gives an update on the latest Omicron data and Ops and Blogs editor Miriam Hershlag discusses two recent pieces about the impact of the pandemic

By TOI staff

Air China flight crew members in hazmat suits walk through the arrivals area at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Nov. 30, 2021 (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

December 1, 2021, 11:02 am

Gov’t adviser: ‘Truly don’t know’ if travel ban will end in time for winter tourism

Ran Balicer suggests government will set high bar before skies open, while head of travel agency says industry in tatters and Israel ‘lost whatever goodwill we had from tourists’

By Nathan Jeffay

Travelers wearing protective face masks arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Nov. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

November 29, 2021, 2:14 pm

Daily Briefing Nov. 29 – How much will Omicron affect Israel’s economy?

Times of Israel editor David Horovitz discusses Iran talks and Bennett; Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben-David talks about the Omicron effect and the dollar-shekel rate

By TOI staff

A couple reunites in the arrival hall of Ben Gurion Airport. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

November 29, 2021, 6:55 am

Israeli children born abroad are automatically citizens, yet some are locked out

Children of Israelis overseas who don’t have Israeli passports can’t enter on foreign documents due to COVID curbs; a long-running High Court petition seeks to change that

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Travelers seen at the Ben Gurion International Airport, on November 28, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

November 28, 2021, 7:03 pm

Ailing tourism sector takes another hit, as Israel bars tourists to curb variant

Tourism minister demands compensation plan for industry workers as restrictions barring entry to foreign nationals poised to take effect

By Ricky Ben-David