Meetings of Israel's coronavirus cabinet yesterday and today indicate the authorities fear another wave of infection. Still, as of this afternoon, no additional major restrictions have been approved on gatherings or transportation. Hotels in Israel remain open and Israelis are free to go on vacation and travel. However, vacationing abroad has become difficult, with several countries recently added to Israel's red list of forbidden destinations.
Israelis like to vacation abroad. In 2018, before the COVID-19 crisis, the number of Israelis doing so was no less than 8.5 million (Israel’s population is 9.5 million). Still, with travel restrictions in place elsewhere, many Israelis are expected to forego travel and spend their summer breaks, which began last week, close to home.
COVID-19 eliminated viturally all trips abroad in the past year. Israelis who wish to vacation outside of the country had hoped to finally be able to do so this year, but those hopes have dimmed. The coronavirus situation in Israel is relatively good because of its vigorous vaccination drive and countries like Greece, which Israelis love to visit, have opened their doors to vaccinated Israelis and don’t require tests upon entry or impose any other restrictions. But many other countries still forbid international tourism or impose many restrictions. Israel itself has blacklisted countries with high rates of infection.
Public pressure has led to the opening of border crossings to two neighboring countries, Egypt and Jordan, popular destinations for their proximity, the beaches of Sinai and Aqaba and cheap prices. The Yitzhak Rabin border crossing reopened July 4, reconnecting Israel's resort destination Eliat with Jordan's Aqaba. Vaccinated Israelis won’t have to be tested for COVID-19, but unvaccinated people including those who recovered from past infections will have to get tested before arrival. Whoever spends longer than 72 hours in Jordan will have to show a negative test from Aqaba and will have to get tested again upon crossing the border back home.
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