CAIRO: Egypt is working to attract more visitors by opening new tourist markets and facilitating entry, said Khaled El-Anany, minister of tourism and antiquities.
The country’s tourism sector has been hit by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, whose peoples represent about 40 percent of beach tourism in Egypt annually
El-Anany said it has been approved to grant foreigners coming to Egypt an emergency entry visa at various points of entry provided that they hold visas for Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Britain or Schengen countries on their passports, as long as they are valid and have been used before.
He added that nationals from South Africa, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan coming to Egypt individually for the first time can also get emergency entry visas, and have been added to the electronic visa portal.
El-Anany said a special incentive package is being studied for the resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, as are plans to encourage domestic tourism.