Egypt: No more visa on arrival?

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"Two tourism officials have criticized the new government's policy of halting issuing visas for foreign travelers into Egypt."

"On Thursday, a government spokesman said Egypt will require visas from all travelers prior to arriving in the country, ending decade-long unrestricted entry for American and other western visitors, and some other nationals."

www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/494000

bikyamasr.com/41769/confusion-as-egypt-says-no-visas-on-arrival/

thedailynewsegypt.com/other-top-stories/egypts-new-tourist-visa-policy-raises-concern.html

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Hmmm, that's not good at all, although not much of a problem for me since I work only 3 blocks away from the Egyptian consulate, but it's a real hassle for many.

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That plan didn't last long!

Cairo scraps plan to tighten tourist visas
By REUTERS

CAIRO: Egypt has canceled plans to tighten visa restrictions on tourists, state media reported on Sunday, after tour operators said the new rules would drive visitors away.

Egypt’s government approved the restrictions three days ago, saying it wanted to improve security.

But it changed its mind when officials warned the changes would damage a vital industry, already hurting after this year’s uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak.

The rules would have forced individual tourists to get entry visas in their home countries before entering Egypt. Only people traveling with approved tour companies would have been able to continue getting visas at Egyptian airports.

“Issuing a decision like this would have severe negative effects on tourism which was made obvious by reactions from inside and outside Egypt and this led to canceling the decision completely,” Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour was quoted as saying.

Tourism revenue plunged 47.5 percent to $3.6 billion in January to June this year compared with $6.9 billion in July to December 2010, before the uprising.

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This is one of those things you encounter from time to time in life when when just shake your head in wonder at what on earth were they thinking when they decided on it in the first place.