Egypt to offer five-year visa for $700 in bid to boost tourism

Egypt is offering a multiyear visa for the first time and adding more nationalities to visa-on-arrival eligibility, its tourism minister said on Monday.

A five-year multiple-entry visa will be available for $700, while a single-entry 30-day visa on arrival can now be obtained by more than 180 nationalities for $25.

Among the handful of nationalities that have been added are Chinese and Indian, said Ahmed Issa, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

The developments are part of a strategy to boost tourism, a crucial source of foreign currency and jobs for Egypt’s economy which has suffered from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The country, which attracted 11.7 million tourists last year, seeks to boost that number by 25 to 30 per cent annually and reach 30 million by 2028.

Tourist numbers increased by more than 30 per cent in January and February, compared with the first two months of last year, Mr Issa said.

While the two leading tourist sources — Russia and Ukraine — decreased by 40 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively, other nationalities have made up for the loss.