UPDATED: Egypt postpones scrapping on-arrival visas for individual travellers

UPDATED: Egypt postpones scrapping on-arrival visas for individual travellers

On arrival visas will still be available for foreign tourists until an electronic visa system is introduced on a yet to be announced date

Egypt on Thursday postponed the date it would stop issuing on-arrival visas for individual travellers until an online visa system is put in place, a foreign ministry spokesman told Ahram Online.

This comes almost two weeks after the government announced tighter visa rules requiring lone travellers to apply for visas at embassies instead of on arrival at Egyptian ports of entry, a move that critics said would make it more difficult to revive the country's battered tourism industry.

Officials said in mid- March that the system remains unchanged for tour groups, which can still purchase visas at the airports. Individual foreign tourists would be required to obtain prior visas at Egyptian consulates abroad, a move officials say is meant at bolstering border security.

The changes were supposed to take effect on May 15, but foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Atty said the date has been delayed until an electronic system for issuing the visas is set up.

The measure "aims to organise the process of foreigners entering the country within a framework that respects national sovereignty and considers national security, without affecting tourism flow rates," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry spokesman said work is underway on the "technical sides" of the electronic visa system, without giving a specific timeframe.

The new regulations had sparked criticism from local and international tour operators and travellers who have long considered the visa requirement reasonable.

Egypt's once-flourishing tourism industry- a pillar of the economy- has been hammered by protracted political turmoil since the 2011 popular revolt that toppled long-time strongman Hosni Mubarak.

In 2014, around 10 million tourists visited Egypt, a sharp decline from a record 2010 figure of over 14.7 million who visited the country's ancient sites and sea resorts.

Luring back tourists is key to efforts to shore up Egypt's flagging economy, with tourism contributing 11.3 percent of the country's GDP and generating over 14 percent of foreign currency revenues.

The country aims to attract 20 million visitors annually by 2020, recently appointed Minister of Tourism Khaled Rami told Ahram in an interview in March.

This is not the first time such restrictions are introduced and shelved.

In September 2011, authorities approved rules that would have forced individual tourists to apply for visas in their home countries before entering Egypt, but the plans were suspended three days later.

Bachchan visits Pyramids in Egypt, promises to bring family

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has visited the Pyramids in Egypt amid thousands of cheering fans in the audience and promised to bring his family during his next visit here.

On his fourth visit to the country, the 72-year-old actor gave his eager Egyptian fans a moment to cherish forever as he addressed the audience at a glittering ceremony held near the Great Sphinx of Giza to officially inaugurate the third edition of the 'India By the Nile' festival yesterday.

"Thank you so much for the adulation. I am touched to see the rousing welcome I have been getting. I love coming to Egypt. This is not the first time we have met each other neither will it be the last. I promise that the next time I am going to bring along Jaya (wife), Abhishek (son) and Aishwarya (daughter-in-law) with me," Bachchan said.

Evoking the rich history of the pyramids and drawing comparisons between India and Egypt, the actor said he hopes that the bond between the two countries becomes stronger with each passing day.

"Here, I stand today addressing this august gathering at the inaugural of India by Nile. Egypt is the cradle of civilisation, the world's first nation state with one of the longest history. We see above us the towering exemplaries of wonders which remind us how we can aim when we aim together.

"May the great guardian sphinx of Giza above us tonight lend metaphor to the strong and enduring friendship between India and Egypt and unite us in its gaze. May we grow ever closer in mutual understanding. May we connect through the exploration of each other's culture," Bachchan, on a three-day trip to Egypt, added.

The ceremony was anchored and hosted by famous Egyptian actress Bushra.

The evening also saw performances from Indian fusion band Advaita, a Bollywood dance number by a Delhi-based group and an Egyptian drummers.

India is organising 18-day 'India by the Nile' festival, considered the biggest foreign fair, in Egypt to send a message that the country is safe for Indian tourists despite violent extremist attacks and unrest.

Tourism is one of the major centrepieces of the Egyptian economy.

Egypt is hoping that Bachchan's popularity will help bring more tourists from India to boost its economy, hit by political unrest since the ouster of long-time president Hosni Mubarak in 2011. PTI

Amitabh Bachchan inaugurates 'India by the Nile' festival in Egypt

Amitabh Bachchan inaugurates 'India by the Nile' festival in Egypt

Cairo: India's megastar Amitabh Bachchan inaugurated the third edition of the India by the Nile festival during a ceremony attended by the top crux of Egypt's diplomatic, social and business circle in Cairo.

The 72-year-old actor was excited about his three-day visit to the Egypt's capital and commended the Embassy of India and Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Egypt for their efforts to organize the festival.

The Egyptian Minister of Tourism Khaled Ramy welcomed Bachchan and said that cinema was one of the important ways to promote tourism.

"We are looking to attract producers to produce films in Egypt as arts and celebrities have a great impact in promoting tourism," said the minister

"The message of the festival is that we as Indians, friends of Egypt, recognize the crucial impacts of tourism on the Egyptian economy. India sends millions of tourists each year. And many Indians want to come to Egypt if they are rightly addressed," the Indian Ambassador to Egypt Navdeep Suri said.

"This is a very important festival as it is encouraging the cooperation and friendship that are exiting between the two cultures of both the countries," said Bachchan during a special reception hosted by the Indian Ambassador at the India House to mark the formal opening of the annual cultural festival, which runs until 17 April, on Monday evening.

"It is my fourth visit to this wonderful country. Every time I come to Egypt I feel as though I come home. Every time I have been here it has been such an experience. And that is the feeling I am going to carry home when I go back to India. I really want to thank the ambassador for conducting this very important festival and encouraging the co-operation and friendship that have existed between our two cultures and countries," Bachchan said.

Egypt witnessed the toppling over of two governments in three years which resulted in the decline in tourist footfalls as many countries issued advisories to their nationals against visiting it.

The festival (March 30 to April 17) will be inaugurated by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

In addition to screening Bachchan's films and holding interactive sessions with him, the festival will also promote yoga, Indian handicrafts and folk dances among the locals.

"The last two editions of the festival were very successful but this year we decided to rope in an icon to further boost the country's tourism," said Suri.

Egypt witnessed the toppling over of two governments in three years which resulted in the decline in tourist footfalls as many countries issued advisories to their nationals against visiting it.

The festival (March 30 to April 17) inaugurated by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

In addition to screening Bachchan's films and holding interactive sessions with him, the festival will also promote yoga, Indian handicrafts and folk dances among the locals.

"The last two editions of the festival were very successful but this year we decided to rope in an icon to further boost the country's tourism," said Suri.