Tourism officials to meet with security over visa crisis
Thu, 19/03/2015 - 10:49 Al-Masry Al-Youm .
http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/tourism-officials-meet-security-over-visa-crisis

According to informed sources, Assistant Tourism Minister, Adla Ragab, will
meet on Thursday with heads of the National Security to discuss the recent
controversial decision, cancelling visas for individual tourists at Egyptian
airports.

The sources added that the Tourism Minister might also take part in the
meeting.

The Foreign Ministry announced that individual tourists will be obliged to
obtain the tourist visa from Egyptian consulates and embassies abroad, as of
15 May. Following the announcement, Tourism Minister received a letter from
Khaled Manawy, Chairman of the Chamber of Tourism, criticizing the decision,
due to the expected negative impact on the industry.

The deputy chairman of the Chamber, Nour Ali, called for an explanation on
behalf of the government, as to whether the decision would apply to tourists
arriving on charter flights and whether they also would have to obtain visas
from consulates and embassies abroad.

According to tourism industry experts, about 30,000 foreign tourists, who
are permanent residents in Hurghada, will be affected by the panned
procedure changes. They appealed to the officials to review the decision,
especially that many of them come from countries that do not have an
Egyptian consulate.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm