LEGISLATION WATCH- The House of Representatives should review and vote on the Medical Tourism Act “soon,” after the House Tourism and Aviation Committee wrapped drafting of the bill and had it signed off on by the Defense Ministry, committee head Amr Sedky told the local press. The bill, which was introduced in December 2018, would regulate the medical tourism industry by creating a national authority for the industry. This would accredit, rather than license, companies working in the sector, and defines heath tourists as those who come to receive hospital treatment, “ecotourists” visiting natural-healing sites, and disabled individuals entering the country for “accessible tourism.” The legislation could bring in at least 250k more tourists to visit over 16 sites and USD 1 bn in tourism inflows each year.

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