Egypt’s Ministry of Interior has increased the cost of tourist entry visas from $US 25 to $US 60, announced the State Information Service.
According to the Interior Ministry, the new fees will be implemented from 1 March 2017. The decision was originally made by the Interior Ministry on 16 February, but confirmed by the Foreign Ministry on Friday.
The Interior Ministry also announced changes to residency visas. Foreigners will now be able to apply for visas valid for 10 years or five years, with fees reaching EGP 500 for each year spent in the country ($US 30).
It is unclear whether the new visa fees will negatively impact tourism to Egypt, as prices are still significantly lower than what is charged by many other countries across the world.
The country’s tourism industry, once the flagship of the economy and the second most important earner of hard currency, has been struggling greatly since the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak from power. The industry employs at least four million Egyptians.
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