Egypt applies fees on activities at natural reserves

CAIRO – 26 August 2019: The Official Gazette published Aug. 26 several administrative decisions issued by the Ministry of Environment to regulate the management of natural reserves, most notably the application of the environmental permits system for economic activities practiced in nature reserves.

The decisions aim at regulating the use of the natural resources of these reserves, such as the picturesque beaches and various water sports, and at generalizing the visit fee system in natural reserves, which are witnessing intensive trips and visits. The implementation of these decisions is among the prime minister's assignments and will take place in coordination with the concerned governorates.

Decision No. 204 of 2019 of the Ministry of Environment stipulated the collection of a fee of $5 per foreign person for daily visits, from sunrise to evening; children under seven are exempted. The entry fee for a small car accompanied by a foreigner is $5, and for a big car is $10. The fee is doubled in the evening and is fixed at LE25 for Egyptians.

The Natural Reserves sector in the Ministry of Environment is scheduled to start collecting the new fees of entry or activities in the Red Sea and South Sinai reserves, in addition to imposing fees on diving yachts, starting from $10 to $60 for yachts with a length of more than 30 meters.