Egypt prepares law on treating foreign tourists

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met on Tuesday with Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Eissa to follow up on preparing the draft laws on dealing with foreign tourists and on regulating new tourism companies.

Eissa reviewed the most prominent achievements of the National Tourism Strategy in the tourism and antiquities sectors.

They meeting also touched on improving the investment climate regarding hotels and recreational activities.

The minister indicated that the plan for 2023 was implemented with the Cabinet approving the two proposed incentive packages to encourage the private sector to expand investment in building hotel rooms.

Regarding the reforming the legislative environment, Eissa referred to the issuance of a new law on establishing tourism chambers and organizing a union for them.

They have also worked to prepare the executive regulations for this law, in addition to preparing a draft law on dealing with foreign tourists and the general framework of a draft law regulating new tourism companies.

The minister explained that spending programs on marketing and promotional activities implemented by the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion have been redirected.

Spending on marketing, promotion and stimulating aviation has succeeded, he added.

The minister pointed out an increase in the volume of total spending, a decrease in credit balances, and an increase in bank balances during 2023, without relying on the state budget for any support.

He said that an integrated plan has been developed to increase the ability of the private sector to govern and influence spending policies on marketing and promotion, and the completion of preparing the executive regulations for the law establishing tourism chambers and organizing a union for them.

Eissa explained: “A set of facilities have already been approved for obtaining tourist visas, especially for incoming tourism from some Maghreb countries, Iraq, Turkey, China, and India, and the facilities began working in mid-April 2023.”