Egypt’s Transport Ministry hosts conference in efforts to boost yacht tourism and marina development

CAIRO – 28 December 2023: The Ministry of Transport is hosting a conference for investors and individuals interested in yacht tourism, marina establishment, and the development of tourist destinations. The conference is scheduled to take place at the Ministry's headquarters in the Administrative Capital next Tuesday.

The initiative comes as part of the Ministry's efforts to maximize yacht tourism in Egypt. The Ministry implemented measures to streamline and expedite procedures for the arrival and departure of foreign yachts from tourist ports and marinas situated along Egypt's coastlines.

A single digital platform was established to serve as a centralized hub for foreign yachts, simplifying the necessary procedures and providing expedited approval for the yacht visit program. Through this digital window, foreign yacht operators can obtain approval within just 30 minutes, a significant reduction from the previous processing time of 15 to 30 days.

Earlier this year, the Ministry has introduced a unified tariff for trawler fees across all docks, passenger stations, and tourist ports under its jurisdiction. This move aims to eliminate the issue of conflicting trawler fees for foreign yachts in Egyptian ports.

The unified tariff will be denominated in a single currency, ensuring clarity and transparency for yacht operators. This measure does not interfere with trawler interviews, giving passengers aboard foreign yachts the freedom to choose their preferred berthing location, be it a commercial port or a public/private marina. The decision can be based on factors such as pricing, services offered, and the desired tourist attractions.

To further facilitate yacht tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued directives to Egyptian embassies and consulates worldwide. These instructions state that foreign tourists arriving in Egypt aboard foreign tourist yachts will be granted a tourist residence permit for a period of three months, extending their stay beyond the previous limit of one month.