After widespread condemnation from the Egyptian tourist industry, Egypt has delayed its decision to require all single travelers to get a visa before arrival, a move that was to go into effect May 15.
The Foreign Ministry released a statement Thursday announcing that the decision would be delayed until an electronic visa system was in place, without giving any timeline for such a system to be implemented. The statement said the move was made after extensive consultations with companies from the tourism sector.
The decision to require visas before arrival from all single travelers would have required them to visit an Egyptian consulate abroad - a big hurdle for many tourists. In the United States, for example, there are only five consulates, leaving some potential tourists facing a six-plus hour drive to drop off their application and pick it up when approved. An online visa service, which many countries have implemented over the last decade, would address that concern.
The delay is sure to bring a sigh of relief to Egypt's already struggling tourism industry.