Israel tourism

Guests at the reception desk in a Tel Aviv hotel, April 27, 2021. (Miriam Alster/ FLASH90)

October 24, 2021, 9:52 pm

Hoteliers doubt eased tourist rules will make a difference

Operators say new government plan to open borders to foreigners sets too-tight limits on vaccination requirements

By TOI staff

Travelers are seen at Ben Gurion Airport, on July 19, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

October 21, 2021, 5:54 pm

Israel to allow vaccinated or recovered tourists to enter starting November 1

But government says no entry for travelers coming from ‘red’ countries or from places seeing outbreak of new AY4.2 strain; Russian vaccine not okayed, for now

By TOI staff

Travelers are seen at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on September 20, 2021. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

October 21, 2021, 1:33 pm

Officials mull testing tourists from nations with new virus strain every 2 days

Plan to be proposed by health officials at meeting with Bennett amid concerns over subvariant; 5 cases of AY4.2 discovered retroactively in Israel; CDC says 1st cases found in US

By TOI staff

Jacob Rayman, an American immigrant from Seattle, Washington, who fell in the Yom Kippur War. (Courtesy of the Rayman family)

September 17, 2021, 11:19 am

Around the country, picturesque memorials to fallen heroes of the Yom Kippur War

Forests, parks, promenades and overlooks in Israel often feature monuments to soldiers or units who made the ultimate sacrifice for their homeland. Here are a few such tributes

By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am

Travelers wear protective face masks inside Ben Gurion International Airport on August 5, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/FLASH90)

September 5, 2021, 9:22 pm

Israel to reopen borders to some vaccinated tourist groups in two weeks

Incoming tourists from select countries must be fully vaccinated with a recent negative COVID test; must also undergo antibody testing upon arrival in order to skip quarantine

By AFP and TOI staff

Entering the newly restored Mount Zion tunnel from the top point near the Jerusalem University College. (Shmuel Bar-Am)

September 4, 2021, 8:44 am

Get into the trenches of Israeli history at the revamped Mt. Zion supply tunnel

When Jordanian snipers threatened supply lines before Israel unified Jerusalem, IDF engineers built a secret trench now renovated and open to visitors after lying dormant for years

By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am

Kids can partake in a variety of interactive projects at the Bible Lands Museum's 'Early Birds' exhibit. (Shmuel Bar-Am)

August 28, 2021, 8:54 am

Flock to Jerusalem’s Bible Lands Museum for this family-friendly bird exhibit

See how ancient avians were feared, revered, or just part of everyday life in cultures around the world, plus kids can enjoy an interactive play area with costumes and games

By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport, June 27, 2019. (Adam Moreira/Wikipedia CC-BY-SA-4.0)

August 9, 2021, 8:17 am

Boutique airline to launch all-business class Tel Aviv-Paris-New York flights

La Compagnie only operates 2 planes, which it says allows it to charge 30% less than business class seats in other airlines; route could face delays due to COVID restrictions

By TOI staff

Travelers are seen in the arrival hall of Ben Gurion International Airport, on June 30, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

July 10, 2021, 11:38 pm

Israel said likely to delay reopening borders to most tourists until September

Jerusalem attempting to speed up next shipment from Pfizer as doses set to expire; officials mull return to socially distanced ‘capsules’ in schools; 700 new cases over weekend

By TOI staff

View of the Herod's Palace hotel in Eilat on October 11, 2019. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)

June 29, 2021, 7:31 pm

Tourism Ministry cancels domestic tourism ad campaign over high hotel prices

Minister Yoel Razvozov says he is working to convince hotels to lower prices and to compile a list of those offering discounts

By Amy Spiro

Travelers at the Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on April 18, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

June 12, 2021, 3:37 am

Israel sees record number of travelers at airport since pre-COVID

Some 22,500 people pass through Ben Gurion Airport in a day, mostly Israelis traveling abroad, with Israel likely to let individual tourists in again at end of month

By TOI staff

Passengers walk in the arrivals hall at the Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on March 8, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/ Flash90)

June 10, 2021, 11:22 pm

Israel plans to allow individual tourists back into the country starting July 1

With okay already given to groups, interior minister recommends speedy entry process for those inoculated against coronavirus — from certain countries

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

Theology students from Missouri, the first vaccinated tour group to visit Israel in over a year, at Ben Gurion Airport, May 27, 2021. (Michael Dimenstein/GPO)

May 28, 2021, 8:43 am

Tourism Ministry welcomes US theology students as 1st tour group in over a year

Ministry greets vacationers with flowers and mandatory COVID-19 tests; new program aims to gradually reopen county’s borders

By TOI staff

A view of the Supreme Court building from the Wohl Rose Park in Jerusalem, April 2021. (Shmuel Bar-Am)

May 22, 2021, 7:59 am

Majestic architecture and delicate flora make Jerusalem’s Givat Ram a must-see

In addition to housing the Israeli parliament, the neighborhood boasts the architecturally magnificent Supreme Court building and the aromatic Wohl Rose Park, the largest in Israel

By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am

Israeli exhibitors receive visitors at their stand on the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market exhibition, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

May 17, 2021, 8:10 pm

Israel promotes tourism in Dubai, even amid ongoing conflict with Gaza

‘We are talking about the future,’ says Tourism Ministry official at UAE Travel Market. ‘This escalation, it will finish one day’

By AP and TOI staff