Written by: JOY! Travel 
Article source: JOY! Magazine 

1. Is International Travel Open For South Africans?
Most countries have now opened to vaccinated travellers from South Africa. Israel has re-opened for vaccinated tour groups and JOY! Travel will be commencing tours from March 2022. Most countries in Europe are also accepting SA travellers – but you must check the country requirements before booking any trip, as they do differ. We will be conducting our popular Andre Rieu Maastricht Tour in the Netherlands in July 2022. We expect Turkey to open soon – and when they do, we will commence our 7 Churches of Revelation Bible Tours from May 2022.

2. Will I Need A Covid-19 Vaccine To Travel?
At this stage, vaccine proof is required for (most) international travel destinations. We do not expect Israel to do away with vaccine proof for at least 3 years – and at present Israel requires that your vaccine be within 1 year prior to arrival – though this may change in 2022. Turkey may (or may not) ease their vaccine requirements in due course, but they are heavily influenced by Europe and as such, we expect nothing will change for at least 1-2 years. Most of Europe requires vaccine proof for entry, though some countries allow travellers (who have not been vaccinated) to enter with a mandatory quarantine period at a government-approved facility (at your own cost).

3. If I Have A Vaccine, Do I Still Need A PCR Test To Fly?
Regulations differ by country and by airline; at this stage most airlines and countries require a negative COVID (PCR) test as well as proof of vaccination. We do not expect this to change for the next year, however once the pandemic reaches acceptable “epidemic” levels (hopefully towards the end of 2022), the international community may decide to ease travel requirements. JOY! Travel offers Christian Bible Tours to Israel, Turkey, Greece, (and Andre Rieu Tours in Holland and Christian Cruises on the Med in Europe) from March 2022 – and we will advise all our passengers of the requirements per tour.

You have waited patiently to travel – and very soon we will “lift off” with our Bible Tours. Read this guide and book your JOY! holiday with confidence.

4. What If A Lockdown Takes Place – Can I Still Travel?
Regulations differ per country, however JOY! Travel has comprehensive travel insurance that we believe minimises the risks and costs in case of testing positive pre-tour / on tour for COVID, or should a lockdown (in South Africa or overseas) take place. There is always a risk with travelling, but we believe this risk has dropped substantially over the past 18 months, and we feel confident to arrange bucket-list Bible tours for our beloved travellers.

5. Can I Travel Internationally Without A Vaccine?
There are a few countries that will accept unvaccinated tourists – however, they usually insist on a negative COVID test and a mandatory quarantine period in a government-approved hotel (timeframe ranges from 5-10 days and is an extra cost for the traveller). JOY! Travel is investigating non-vax tour options and you can obtain more information from our offices. We also have interactive “virtual tours” to Israel – which offer live teaching, ministry, guided info, and worship via Zoom.

6. What Kind Of Experience Can I Expect In A “Post-Covid” World?
Our team has been planning life-changing Bible tours and Christian holidays for 15 years. During the “down-time” we have continued to craft special tours that are as easy and “stress-free” as possible for our valued travellers. Before signing up for a tour, we give you all the relevant info and requirements, as well as the details of what you are covered for (in case you test positive).
• We have an app for every tour that offers extra info, Bible maps, sermons and pics, it also has all the travel rules at your fingertips.
• We conduct a Zoom (and in person) group meeting before your tour commences and send out detailed FAQ travel advice in advance.
• Our experienced tour leaders chaperone every tour and look after you! Masks are not required on tours overseas, but strict sanitising does take place. Tours are also smaller due to regulations.

For more please email us on: info@joytravel.co.za

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Date published: 23/10/2021

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JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.