Egypt is set ease its border restrictions on July 1, just in time to welcome back tourists for summer holidays.
According to the country’s civil aviation minister, Egypt will reopen all of its airports to international traffic on July 1. However, foreign tourism will be limited to resorts in three seaside regions for the time being.
Minister Mohamed Manar Anda said flights would gradually resume from the beginning of July, with foreign tourists being welcomed back to the select seaside resorts.
The regions allowed to reopen include southern Sinai, where the resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab are located, Red Sea province, home to the Hurghada and Marsa Alam resorts, and Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean.
Hotels in the country have already been open to domestic tourists for one month, with health protocols in place.
Cairo Airport will remain closed to international traffic until further notice.
To kick-start tourism, the country has out in place a set of incentives aimed at attracting holidaymakers. These include the removal of tourist bias and 20 percent discounts for entry fees to popular attractions and landmarks.
For now the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to advise that British passport holders require a visa unless travelling to certain holiday resorts.
The FCO said: “If you’re travelling to Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts for up to 15 days, you will receive a free entry permission stamp upon arrival.
“If you intend to travel out of these areas or stay longer than 15 days, you must get a visa.”
The FCO continues to advise against all but essential travel and is inviting a 14-day quarantine period for all arrivals back into the UK.
The FCO adds that the current travel advisory is “under constant review”, though gives no indication as to when or if it will be lifted before the end of summer.
