First foreign tourists in more than a year land in Israel

The first group of foreign tourists in more than a year touched down in Israel on Thursday after the government began opening its borders following a steep drop in COVID-19 infections. Small groups of vaccinated foreign tourists - up to 30 people - have been allowed to enter as of last Sunday and the Tourism Ministry expects 20 such groups to come from countries, including the United States, Britain and Germany, under a pilot programme until June 15. The ministry then hopes to expand the number of groups and, in July, allow individual tourists. Shortly after 4 pm (1300 GMT), United flight 90 from Newark, New Jersey landed with 12 Christian pilgrims, men and women of varying ages, studying theology at the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. They were welcomed by Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Hakohen, who said: "You are the first of what I am sure will be many tourists returning to the Holy Land." Led by Pastor Tom Zelt of the Prince of Peace Church, the group plans to visit Jerusalem, Nazareth, national parks and Christian sites, the Tourism Ministry said. "Israel is ... healthy and vaccinated. Everything is now safely open," Farkash-Hakohen told the group. The country had closed its borders to foreigners at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. <br/>