04/24/2014
Egyptian authorities have decided to raise the cost of a tourist entry visa by $ 5 from May 1. Thus, a visa to Egypt will cost not 15, but 20 dollars. Considering that an Egyptian visa is issued at the airport upon arrival, and obtaining it is a pure formality, its only task is to replenish the country’s budget. Nevertheless, according to experts in the travel industry, the cost of a visa has increased slightly and this will not affect the flow of tourists.
“The rise in the cost of visas will have an insignificant effect on the tourist flow. According to our information, the visa to Egypt is still one of the most affordable in the world, «- said Hisham Zaazu, Minister of Tourism of Egypt, commenting on the decision to increase the cost of a visa to $ 20. By the way, according to Mr. Zaazu, the decision to increase the cost of a tourist visa to Egypt was announced in advance. At first it was reported that the cost of a tourist visa should be increased from November 2013, however, in order not to scare off tourists, the authorities decided to postpone this measure. It is noteworthy that at that time it was planned to increase the cost of a visa much more significantly — by $ 10, bringing it to $ 25. Then it was planned to increase the cost in February 2014, but even then it was decided to postpone this innovation. Finally, the final date for the entry into force of the new rules was announced today — May 1, 2014, and only for $ 5.
“Therefore, a $ 5 increase in the cost of a visa will in no way affect the dynamics of tourist flow to the country. Indeed, against the background of the total cost of the tours, $ 5 is a very insignificant amount «, — Elena Zakharova, head of the PR-service of the tour operator» Anex Tour «, commented to the correspondent of the TURPROM information group.
Indeed, Egypt has already set up «experiments» with the cost of a visa, and this did not affect the flow of tourists. So, in the summer of 2012, Egypt decided to spur the interest of tourists by completely abolishing the entry visa fee. And when on September 1, 2012, the Egyptian authorities returned the 15-dollar visa fee again, this did not affect the increase in tourist flow.
By the way, in the wake of changes in the cost of visas at Egyptian airports, crooks may again become active. Let us recall that earlier they were active directly at the airports of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh with the connivance of the administrations of these airports. Their «business» consisted in the «wiring» of arriving tourists for additional money for an imaginary service for the quick registration of visas and the passage of the state border.
At the same time, tourists planning to spend their holidays in Sharm El Sheikh or in other resorts of the Sinai Peninsula will not be affected by this visa increase at all. Instead of a visa stamp for $ 20, you need to ask the border guards to put a free «Sinai stamp», which gives the right to spend 15 days on the territory of the Sinai Peninsula — from Taba to Sharm el Sheikh, including the Gulf of Aqaba, and the hinterland, along with Mount Moses and St. .Katerina.
OUR REFERENCE: Where did the «Sinai stamp» come from? As a result of the 1978 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, the latter returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, which had been captured in 1967. However, in order to partially compensate for its investments in the development of the Sinai resorts, Israel demanded from Egypt the right of free visa-free entry to the peninsula for its tourists. However, after a few years, it became obvious that this procedure is unfair for the rest of the tourists coming to Sinai. As a result, in the early 80s, the Egyptians decided to let everyone in without a visa, but only on condition that they enter the Sinai through one of the agreed border points: Taba, Taba airport, Nuweiba port and Sharm El Sheikh airport. At the same time, the border guards do not like to put the «Sinai stamp» on tourists, because it is free, and by default everyone is required to buy a «visa stamp».
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