No visa fees to enter Egypt’s select provinces, till October 31

Egypt’s tourism ministry is scrapping tourist visa fees for the governorates of South Sinai, Marsa Matrouh and the Red Sea until October 31, in a move meant to encourage tourists back to the country.

Khaled El Enani, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, stated that the Ministry of Interior has issued a new decision to abolish the fees for all citizens visiting Egypt in only the three governorates mentioned above.

El Enani conducted a visit to the governorates, to some of the hotels and their airports, deeming them more suitable for touristic activities than condensed and crowded cities, especially during the pandemic where transmission rates are high.

“We decided on exempting foreign tourists from tourist visas until October 31,” he announced before adding “thus, no citizen from an Arab or foreign country would pay for a tourist visa, in the touristic governorates, until October 31.”

Cases of COVID-19 have been reported highest in Egypt’s largest cities, namely Alexandria and Cairo.

“We re-started touristic activities in the beginning of May, then we decided to resume at 50% capacity from June 1 and we are hoping that, on July 1, we resume tourism activities in three governorates,” he stated in televised remarks on local channel, Sada El Balad.

El Enani also explained that various touristic venues, namely hotels, were not given their working permits as they did not take the required health measures which would protect employees, tourists and civilians alike.

Clearly reeling from the economic burdens of its halted tourism sector, a crucial basis for Egypt’s overall economy, the Ministry – which has recently launched a new campaign for tourism – had previously lowered its ticket fees for key attractions in Qena, Luxor and Aswan.

Last week, Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Manar announced that international flight operations would resume as of July 1, bringing hope that summertime, a popular time for travelling worldwide, could still bring international travellers and holiday-makers to the country.