Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a meeting yesterday evening to discuss simplifying tourist arrival procedures at Egyptian airports. Attendees included Communications Minister Amr Talaat, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy, Foreign Affairs and Emigration Minister Badr Abdelatty, Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny, Deputy Communications Minister Raafat Hendi, Major General Ashraf El-Prince of the Interior Ministry’s Ports Sector, National Bank of Egypt executive Haitham Zaki, Banque Misr executive Ehab Dorra and officials from relevant agencies.
Madbouly emphasized government support for tourism as a promising economic sector that creates jobs and increases foreign-currency earnings.
He stressed creating a distinctive experience for foreign visitors, particularly by simplifying airport entry and exit procedures using leading systems and technologies.
The efforts form part of wider airport development to accommodate increased tourism and achieve the target of 30 million visitors.
The communications and tourism ministers agreed on the importance of upgrading the foreign-tourist visa platform to make entry procedures easier.
Talaat said a comprehensive modernization of visa processes should address previous visitor difficulties using the latest electronic systems. Fathy emphasized a corresponding upgrade of the online portal.
Abdelatty reviewed efforts by Egyptian embassies and consulates to simplify visas abroad and stressed that easier airport entry would strongly support inbound tourism.
El-Hefny highlighted advance online visa applications as a key means of avoiding congestion and accelerating arrivals across Egyptian airports.
Madbouly instructed the tourism and aviation ministers to prepare an integrated plan with all relevant agencies, using the latest international electronic systems to simplify foreign tourist arrivals, according to the Egyptian Cabinet’s official Facebook page.
