Cairo-
As Egyptian tourism continues to suffer from the repercussions of the Russian war on Ukraine, Egypt is intensifying its efforts to try to compensate for its losses and target new tourist markets that replace the absent Russians and Ukrainians.
According to the figures of the Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Chamber of Tourist Establishments, Russian and Ukrainian tourists represent about 40% of the volume of beach tourism that comes to Egypt annually, which indicates that the tourism sector has entered a real crisis after the last period witnessed expectations of a popular tourist season, following the easing of anti-terror measures. Corona globally.
The tourism crisis casts a dark shadow on the Egyptian economy, as it is one of the most important sources of national income and represents about 12% of the gross domestic product. It is also one of the largest sources of foreign exchange in which the country suffers from a clear shortage, prompting it to expand external borrowing.
Electronic visas and fines waived
Egyptian Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anani revealed unprecedented facilities in granting visas to enter Egypt, and facilitating the arrival of tourists, explaining that the government will allow 180 nationalities to obtain a visa electronically, including all holders of Britain, Schengen, European, United States and Japan visas.
During a symposium held by the Tourist Writers Association on "Egyptian Tourism in the Current International Circumstances", Al-Anani stressed that these decisions came within the framework of Egypt's efforts to push more tourist traffic to it, by working to facilitate procedures for obtaining a tourist visa.
The minister promised to provide an enjoyable and unique tourism experience for his country's guests, especially with the recent archaeological discoveries, new museums and the ongoing infrastructure development of coastal tourist cities, he said.
The Minister of Tourism also announced that it had been agreed to exempt Ukrainian and Russian tourists from fines imposed on the expiration of the visa, or the period of exemption from paying visa fees.
The Holy Family and the Greatest Transfiguration
On the other hand, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism announced the complete completion of work on the restoration and upgrading of the path of the Holy Family’s journey, which includes 25 points extending 3,500 km back and forth from Sinai to Assiut, where each site visited by the Holy Family contains a unique and important group of antiquities. Among churches, monasteries and water wells, as well as a group of Coptic icons indicating the passage of the Holy Family to those sites.
According to Egyptian media, what is meant by the Holy Family’s journey is the journey that Mary and her child, Jesus Christ, took to escape the oppression of Emperor Herod, during which she passed through the land of Egypt.
Al-Anani explained - in statements to Al-Watan newspaper - that the development is not limited to paying attention to the path of the Holy Family only, but has gone beyond it to take care of the religious sites in St. Catherine, which is witnessing a complete development process estimated at a cost of billions, while preserving the spiritual, archaeological, heritage and natural character of St. Catherine's Reserve. The Greatest Transfiguration Project will be an important and unique model for one of the holiest spots on earth.”
The "Greatest Transfiguration" includes the establishment of more than 14 projects in the mountains surrounding Wadi Towa in the South Sinai Governorate, with the aim of transforming the region into a meeting place for the followers of the monotheistic religions.
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities indicated that work is underway to target promising tourist markets, including Kazakhstan, which is an important part of religious tourism in the world.