Madbouly: Expanding the list of countries whose citizens can obtain an entry visa at Egyptian airports
Tourism Minister: Pilot application of the e-visa issuance system using QR code technology from August
Civil Aviation Minister: Training airport staff in preparation for applying the new system
Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly today held a meeting to follow up on measures to facilitate tourists' entry into the country, helping to strengthen the competitiveness of Egypt as a tourist destination and increase inbound tourism.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El Hefny and Ambassador Haddad El-Gohary, Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad, along with a number of officials from the relevant authorities.
At the start of the meeting, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly stressed that tourism is one of the main pillars of the Egyptian economy and receives great attention from the state, and that the government is working in an integrated manner to create an attractive environment for tourists by raising the quality of services, simplifying procedures and removing any obstacles that may affect the movement of tourist groups.
The prime minister said: "In the current phase, the government aims to achieve a leap in inbound tourist flows to Egypt through a plan targeting a number of areas, including incentivizing airlines and tourism companies, increasing hotel capacity to accommodate the targeted growth in tourist numbers, and expanding the list of countries whose citizens can obtain an entry visa at various Egyptian airports, helping to facilitate travel and arrival procedures and strengthening the competitiveness of Egypt as a tourist destination."
During the meeting, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy reviewed the latest measures the ministry is taking to facilitate tourists' entry into the country, noting that pilot application of the e-visa issuance system using Quick Response (QR) code technology is scheduled to begin in August, as part of the state's digital transformation efforts and simplifying visa procedures, helping to speed up entry procedures and improve the tourist experience from the moment of arrival at Egypt's ports of entry.
Fathy added that the ministry, in coordination with the various relevant authorities, continues to implement a number of measures aimed at facilitating tourists' entry into Egypt, ensuring an easier and smoother travel experience from the moment of arrival.
In this context, the tourism minister outlined the status of the countries whose citizens can obtain a visa on arrival, as well as the countries benefiting from the e-visa system, pointing to ongoing efforts to expand the list of countries enjoying these facilities and reduce the time needed to issue visas, helping to strengthen the competitiveness of Egypt as a destination and increase tourist arrivals.
In a related context, Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El Hefny spoke about ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in preparation for the pilot application of the e-visa system, noting that training programs are currently being implemented for airport staff on the mechanisms for operating the new system, ensuring its rapid and efficient application and achieving its intended goals of facilitating tourist entry and improving the level of services at air ports of entry.
The minister reviewed the package of measures and decisions the ministry has taken recently to facilitate travel and arrival for Egyptian and foreign passengers, along with a number of proposals being worked on for implementation in the coming phase, helping to raise the level of services at Egyptian airports.
El Hefny stressed the need to pay attention to African countries when expanding the facilitation system, reflecting the depth of Egypt's relations with its African brothers and encouraging more African citizens to visit Egypt for tourism or business by providing more facilities and simplified entry procedures.
The minister also presented indicators of airport operations in the current period, pointing to notable growth in inbound flights, especially to El Alamein International Airport, reflecting growing tourist traffic to the North Coast, in line with the state's efforts to strengthen Egypt's position as a tourist destination.
During the meeting, Ambassador Haddad El-Gohary, Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad, affirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' support for expanding the list of countries whose citizens can obtain an e-visa or visa on arrival, adding that this step will facilitate travel to Egypt, strengthen the destination's appeal and help increase tourist arrivals, as part of ongoing coordination between the various authorities to facilitate entry into the country, according to the official Facebook page of Egypt's Cabinet.
