Ministry of Tourism considering payment of $7 development fee on behalf of tourism companies

Daily News Egypt
2 Min Read
Tourism activity for the current fiscal year (FY) 2014/2015 will see income rise 47% to $7.5bn, compared to $5.1bn in the previous year. (AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI)
An Egyptian camel owner waits for customers as tourists visit the Giza pyramids, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, on October 1, 2012.  (AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI)
An Egyptian camel owner waits for customers as tourists visit the Giza pyramids, south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, on 2012.
(AFP FILE PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI)

By Abdel Razek Al Shuwekhi

Following a clarification from the economic adviser to Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou Adala Ragab, the Daily News Egypt has learned that the Ministry of Tourism is studying the possibility of paying a $7 development fee, imposed on tourism companies per each passenger by the Egyptian Airports Company, on their behalf for a six month period to support the tourism sector.

Ragab said the Ministry of Tourism has been receiving requests from the Egyptian companies who believed the foreign ministry’s decision to raise visa fees fails to take into consideration the state of the tourism sector during the past three years.

This led the ministry to study the option of paying for the development fees instead of the companies.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to increase the visa fee from $15 per person to $25 staring this month.

The Daily News Egypt had previously reported that the Ministry of Tourism would impose a $7 development tax on tourists arriving in airports in Alexandria, South Sinai, Hurghada, Luxor and Aswan for six months.

 

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