Egypt will allow a total of 74 countries to obtain tourist visas electronically upon arrival at any of Egypt’s ports within 24 hours of registering for them, an official statement by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities read on Tuesday.
The statement affirmed that Egypt’s e-Visa Portal can issue tourist visas to visitors holding valid passports from Schengen countries, the US, the UK, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada — to name a few — upon arriving to Egypt.
An Egyptian tourist e-visa costs $25 for a single-entry visa or $60 for multiple entries, Ghada Shalaby, the vice minister for tourism and antiquities, said in July.
The update comes as part of the state’s efforts to encourage the flow of tourists of different nationalities, especially amid the pandemic.
Egypt resumed international flights to and from all its airports in July 2020 after a four-month suspension due to the coronavirus.
The country also started receiving flights from Russia to Egypt’s Red Sea resort cities after a six-year hiatus.
Russian travelers have always been a major contributor to the country's tourism industry, making them a key source of hard currency in Egypt.
Foreign tourists are only allowed — as tour groups — into the coastal governorates of the Red Sea, Marsa Matrouh, and South Sinai, given that they are the least affected by the pandemic.
Egypt requires travelers arriving to the country to present a negative PCR test certificate performed 72 hours before taking off from their destination or a recognized certificate proving they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival. Both certificates should contain a stamp from the country of origin and a QR Code.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
