Israel eyes Dubai, London and New York as it reopens to vaccinated visitors

Advertising campaigns planned in three cities before arrival of first tourists on May 23

A Boeing 777 flies over Netanya on Israel's Independence Day, which marks the 73rd anniversary of its establishment. Reuters

A cable car ferries tourists to access the Rosh Hanikra grottoes near the Israeli-Lebanese border in Rosh Hanikra. AFP  

A woman opens her door in the closed main tourist market in the northern city of Nazareth. Israel unveiled its plan to restore inbound tourism in an effort to bring the economy back to normal amid the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

The first visitors are set to touch down in Tel Aviv on May 23, Israel's tourism minister said. EPA

A Jewish couple visit the Rosh Hanikra grottoes at the Israeli-Lebanese border in Rosh Hanikra. AFP

A garbage collector walks towards the Rosh Hanikra grottoes on the Israeli-Lebanese border in Rosh Hanikra. The grottoes are a geologic formation on the Israel-Lebanon border, along the Mediterranean coast. AFP

A view of the pool at the Royal Beach Hotel in Eilat, Israel. Reuters

An aerial view of Jerusalem's Old City seen during a flyover by a plane on Israel's Independence Day, which marks the 73rd anniversary of its creation. Reuters

Israel is reopening to vaccinated travellers from May 23, according to the country's tourism ministry. Unsplash

Israel unveiled plans to reopen the country to tourists for the first time since the start of the pandemic last year, although only those vaccinated against the coronavirus will be welcome this summer.

The first 40 tour groups are expected to touch down in Israel on May 23, while individual visitors will have to wait until July at the earliest before they can travel.

“It’s a hopeful day, in my view,” Israel’s tourism minister, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, said in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

"I think it is about time that the huge advantage that Israel has as a healthy and vaccinated destination [is harnessed]."

Israel has vaccinated nearly 55 per cent of its population and coronavirus infection rates have plummeted, allowing the country to open hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions, with some restrictions.

Those scheduled to arrive in late May will join approved bus tours.

"These groups are easy to monitor as they have a schedule that is organised and we know where they are at every time and place," the tourism minister said.

Visitors must be fully vaccinated with doses approved by US and European regulators, in addition to undergoing coronavirus tests before boarding their flight and on arrival.

Ms Farkash-Hacohen did not reveal where the first set of visitors will arrive from, although Israel plans to launch advertising campaigns in Dubai, London and New York.

"We see great potential in the Emirates, also because of the strength of the Emirati tourists, but also because the Emirates is a centre for many international tourists," the minister said.

More than 38 per cent of UAE residents are fully vaccinated against coronavirus, according to the Our World in Data platform from the University of Oxford.

Under the current proposals, additional tour groups will be allowed to visit in June and individual tourists can arrive from July.

The tourism scheme risks being scuppered by objections from the health ministry, however, which on Tuesday called for the plan to be delayed by a month.

Israel has severely restricted entry to the country since last March and health officials are concerned a change in the rules could lead to the spread of new coronavirus variants.

Ms Farkash-Hacohen said her ministry's plan did not involve the Palestinian Authority, which governs cities in the occupied West Bank, such as tourist hot spot Bethlehem.

About 7 per cent of Palestinians in the West Bank have received a vaccine, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israel has given doses to Palestinians with Israeli work permits, although it faced criticism from rights groups for failing to further expand its vaccination drive in the West Bank and Gaza.