Changes to tourism visa regulations suspended: Egyptian ministry of tourism

Ahram Online, Sunday 11 Sep 2011

The Egyptian government reverses a decision that would have required tourists to get their visas ahead of time instead of buying them upon arrival at the airport, as has been the case for years

visa
(Photo: Reuters)

Egypt will suspend the decision requiring tourists to get visas in advance, says the ministry of tourism.

The Assistant Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zazou announced that the Minister of Tourism Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour has agreed with the Council of Ministers to suspend the decision. Zazou added that tourism companies and offices were already notified of the suspension of the decision.

Last Thursday the cabinet had announced that it was going to change the visa regulations and visitors could no longer get their visa upon arrival in Egypt. Previously, tourists from Europe, the US and other select countries could simply purchase a one-month visa at the airport upon arrival, which helped promote tourism in the country.

Instead, the Egyptian ministries would have required tourists to apply for a visa in advance from Egyptian embassies abroad.

The decision was met by public outcry and accusations that it will be a big blow to Egypt’s already fragile tourism industry, which has seen a 30 per cent decrease in business, agree most travel sector workers.

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