A tourist group is set to arrive in Israel on Thursday afternoon, the first to do so since before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group is participating in the Tourism Ministry's travel group pilot program which aims to restart the tourism industry with a limited number of trial groups.
The group consists of 12 participants - all Christian pilgrims, led by Pastor Tom Zelt from the Prince of Peace Church in Fremont, California.
The participants are students at the Concordia Seminary in Missouri and are visiting the Jewish state as part of their study program.
They will be in Israel until June 10 and will visit religious sites in Jerusalem, the Negev, Masada and Nazareth.
Zelt has led many tours to Israel before, and trains other pastors to become tour leaders in Israel for their own communities.
All incoming tourists will need to be vaccinated with a COVID vaccine approved by the Health Ministry, and only people from countries that meet the ministry’s requirements will be allowed to attend. In addition, they will be required to perform two PCR tests: one up to 72 hours before entering Israel and one upon arrival.