The first step will be to return to the activity of the ground and hotel houses • The "purple character" will also be formulated for the hotel and hotel industry

Now it is official: the outline approved by Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, according to which, the tourism industry will return to activity this Sunday. According to the outline, the first phase will allow the opening of rooms and hotels with ground-floor rooms.

The first to come back are of course the B & Bs, along with ground-floor hotels. High-rise hotels will not be allowed to open - according to today's decision and in accordance with procedures set by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin and Ministry of Health officials.

The decision made today may change as the virus spreads, and there may be changes and delays in opening the tourism industry.

It has also been agreed that in the coming days, together with the Ministry of Health, a "purple character" will be formulated which will serve as a standard for operating the rooms and hotels during the Corona period. The new procedures are expected to include sections related to hygiene level, social remoteness and adherence to the Ministry of Health rules. 

Minister Levin: "I welcome the step taken today. This is in line with thousands of business owners and workers in the tourism industry, which for the first time since the outbreak of the crisis has set a deadline for their return to activity."

The decision will be effective as of Sunday, May 3. Yesterday, a series of large hotel chains announced the opening of the gates towards the end of May - and today (Monday) the decision was made to extend traffic restrictions from abroad to Israel until May 16, after which tourists may be allowed to enter the country to a limited extent.