Egypt Introduces New Measures for Visas to Increase Tourism
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday, 27 March, that it will be issuing a multiple-entry visa for five years, with a USD 700 (EGP 21,000) fee, for citizens of 180 countries.
This announcement came as an effort to stimulate tourism.
If the tourists already have a valid visa from the United Kingdom, the United States, the Schengen area, Japan, or New Zealand, they will be able to receive the new visa upon arrival from Egypt’s airports.
In the same vein, the Ministry also announced that citizens of China, India, and Turkish tourists can obtain a visa upon arrival through one of the Egyptian ports, while citizens of Iran and Israel can enter certain parts of the country – South Sinai and Hurghada – with a visa upon arrival, provided that they coordinate with travel agencies first.
Emergency visas will also be issued to travelers from the Arab Maghreb nations (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), and citizens of India will also be allowed to obtain an emergency visa upon arrival, if they have residency in the Gulf countries, or have an entry visa to the United States, Britain, the European Union, Australia, or New Zealand.
In light of Egypt’s economic challenges and rising inflation, Egypt is targeting to increase tourism by 30 percent annually and to reach 30 million tourists annually by 2028.
