(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.
