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Tourists could soon be able to apply for a new five-year, multiple entry visa,which would set them back USD 700, Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa said at a press conference yesterday (watch, runtime: 6:36). The measure is one of several meant to ease entry restrictions for tourists as the ministry works to double the number of tourists to Egypt to 30 mn annually by 2028. More details will be announced soon, the ministry said.
More travelers eligible for visa-on-arrival: Chinese, Turkish, Algerian, Moroccan, Indian (with GCC residency) and Iraqi (those with visas for developed countries) can now obtain a USD 25 entry visa upon arrival, according to the ministry statement. Meanwhile, Iranian nationals can now get an entry visa on arrival in South Sinai, while Israelis are allowed to travel to Hurghada (as long as they are traveling with a tourist company). The government last year added more than 100 nationalities to the list eligible for entry visas upon arrival.
The move comes against the backdrop of shifting alignments in the region: Potential reconciliation between Egypt and Turkey is in the cards, and Tehran has said it wants to strengthen ties with Cairo following the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement.
REMEMBER- The Tourism Ministry is expecting to receive a record 15 mn tourists this year, up 28% from last year. The industry had a strong 2022, quickly shaking off the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war as operators replaced low-margin Ukrainian and Russian package tours with higher value travelers from Europe and the US. We also saw a strong uptick in Chinese visitors last year.
Museums opening soon: The Imhotep Museum at Saqqara archaeological site will open in the coming weeks, as will the Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, which has been closed for 17 years.
GEM when? We’re still waiting on news about when the ministry plans on finally opening the doors to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
ICYMI- Hilton regional president JJ Sleiffer sat down with us recently to talk about ways to grow the sector — including why making it easier for visitors to get a visa is a smart idea.
