Egypt’s cabinet approves number of decrees to support tourism sector

CAIRO – 30 September 2020: Egypt’s government approved, Wednesday number of decrees aiming to support the sector of tourism and antiquities.

According to official statement, the decisions included aggreging on allowing tourist companies and hotels to delay the payment of electricity, gas and water consumption to December 31, 2020, as well as other government dues and start paying them in January, 2021.

The decrees approved by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli aim at supporting the tourism sector starting from November 1, 2020, until April 30, 2021.

They also include cancelling tourist visas to South Sinai, the Red Sea, Luxor and Aswan governorates until April 30, 2021, as well as continuing to pay financial aid to workers of tourism sector until December, 2020.

The cabinet also approved continuing to support the aviation sector and to implement a new stimulus package starting from January 1 until April 30, 2021.

The decrees also included approving a presidential bill concerning an agreement between Egypt and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) concerning King Salman University project in El Tur, South Sinai.

Many countries announced resuming air flights with Egypt starting October, including Ukraine,France and Poland after long time of suspension as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

On September 28, a source told Youm7 newspaper that Marsa Alam International Airport is expecting to receive the first two flights from Ukraine and France on Saturday after the Coronavirus pandemic.

Polish flights are also expected to start arriving at Marsa Alam International Airport on Tuesday, 6 October.

The airport officials said that they are waiting for confirmation from Czech aviation that they will be resuming their flights during the coming days to Egypt after nearly 6 months of suspension. The source described the coming tourism season in Egypt as “promising”