Egypt is due to welcome a record number of tourists this year due to its simplified visa policy, according to e-Visa.co.uk. Since reopening its borders to foreign visitors in 2020, the country has added eligibility for its visa on arrival and e-visa services to 180 countries – significantly increasing the number of nationalities that can apply for a visa from the 46 eligible in 2019.
Doubling the capacity of flights and hotels, tightening security measures at tourist attractions and introducing a 5-year multiple-entry visa are just some of the efforts taken by the Egyptian government to attract more international travellers.
The International Monetary Fund has recently advised several countries to ease their entry requirements to attract more tourists. The growth in the number of tourists to Egypt after the Covid-19 pandemic supports this theory – with 43% more travellers visiting during the first quarter of 2023 than the same period in 2022, and e-Visa.co.uk processing 46% more applications in the first four months of this year than in the same period a year ago.
Pleun Leijten, Manager Customer Relations at e-Visa.co.uk, said: “The exceptional growth in the number of visa applications to Egypt predicts an excellent holiday season for the country. The reliable application procedure to apply for this required visa for Egypt is therefore an example for other countries.”
The high demand for travel this year has led TUI and Ryanair to announce that they will not be able to offer last-minute bookings, prompting travellers to book their trips in advance and apply for their visas well before departure.
Egypt is expected to surpass the annual number of tourists from before the Covid-19 pandemic this year, with its visa policy proving to be a successful measure in attracting travellers.
With Egypt’s revised visa policy leading to an accelerated recovery in tourism, e-Visa.co.uk is expecting the country to welcome a record number of visitors this year. High demand for travel has meant that holidaymakers are advised to book their trips and apply for visas ahead of time, as last-minute deals are unlikely to be available.
The exceptional growth in the number of visa applications to Egypt is predicted to continue throughout the rest of the year, demonstrating the success of the country’s approach in attracting tourists. Pleun Leijten, Manager Customer Relations at e-Visa.co.uk, commented: “The reliable application procedure to apply for this required visa for Egypt is therefore an example for other countries.”
The tourism sector is a key part of the Egyptian economy and, as such, the country has taken steps to ensure its borders reopened as quickly as possible following the Covid-19 pandemic. By extending eligibility for its visa on arrival and e-visa services to 180 countries, Egypt has made the application procedure easier for many travellers, and is now reaping the benefits of its revised policy.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.