Government backtracks on raising single-entry tourist visas to USD 60

Gov’t backtracks on USD 60 entry visa hike: The government decided yesterday to backtrack on hiking tourist visas to USD 60, and will maintain the cost of single-entry visas at USD 25, while multiple-entry visas will be repriced at USD 60, Al Borsa reports. Yesterday’s decision follows local and international outrage by tourism operators that an increase in visa fees would further reduce tourist arrivals, sources tell the newspaper. Tourism Minister Yehia Rashed had previously acknowledged that the price hikes drew the ire of the tourism sector — including attendees of the ITB Berlin Travel Expo earlier this month.