Latestarticle

 

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Tuesday reviewed government efforts to expand the electronic visa (e-visa) system across all ports of entry, directing that all airports nationwide must be fully prepared by 2026 to process tourist entry through both the electronic visa system and urgent-issuance visas.

Cabinet Spokesman Mohamed Elhomosany stated that the new directives are part of a broader effort to streamline procedures ahead of the expected surge in visitors with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).

Madbouly said, during a meeting with several ministers at the Government Headquarters in the New Capital, that with the anticipated rise in tourist arrivals following the opening of the GEM, Egypt must ensure that all airports and entry points are equipped to offer fast, seamless, and efficient entry procedures, particularly for tourist groups.

He stressed the state’s strong commitment to supporting the tourism sector, noting that it remains “one of the easiest and fastest sectors to generate hard currency for the country.”

The government, he added, aims to introduce further facilitations and incentives to enhance the visitor experience, simplify arrival and departure procedures, and reinforce tourism’s role as a key pillar of the national economy.

Elhomosany added that the meeting reviewed progress in implementing the integrated e-visa issuance system and ongoing efforts by relevant ministries to upgrade infrastructure at airports and all entry points.

He stressed that these steps aim to ensure faster, more streamlined electronic visa procedures and swift completion of entry and exit processes, supporting Egypt’s goal of offering a modern, digitally enabled travel experience for international visitors.

Egypt has been accelerating its shift toward digital entry procedures over the past three years as part of the state’s strategy to modernize travel infrastructure, reduce congestion at airports, and improve the overall tourist experience.

The government currently offers electronic visas to nationals of more than 180 countries. At the same time, citizens of dozens of states are eligible for visa-on-arrival or urgent-issuance visas at airports and select ports of entry.

The push gained momentum in 2024–2025 with the expected opening of the GEM, a landmark project projected to drive a significant increase in international arrivals, mainly from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The Tourism Ministry has repeatedly emphasized the need for fully digitized, rapid-entry procedures to match global standards and accommodate larger tourist flows.

In parallel, the Ministries of Interior, Civil Aviation, Communications, and Tourism have been upgrading airport infrastructure to integrate the e-visa system, automate passport control, and enhance border security technologies.

The government is also expanding digital services, including pre-arrival online payments, QR-based visa confirmations, biometric verification, and automated passenger data systems.

The efforts align with Egypt’s broader goal of increasing annual tourist arrivals to 30 million visitors, improving average spending per visitor, and positioning tourism as a central driver of economic growth, especially given its role as one of the country’s main sources of hard currency.

These measures also come amid a wider national digital transformation plan, under which Egypt has expanded e-government services, implemented smart-gate systems at airports, and integrated platforms linking ministries involved in border and travel procedures.

Source: Ahram Online