Read more: Tunisia nears zero coronavirus cases as it eyes tourism. Airports, bus stations, train stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus. When pandemic measures were announced in March, Antiquities and Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anani said Egypt could shed up to $1 billion (€890 million) each month from lost tourism revenue. "When corona hit, it was terrible — not just for us here, but around the world," Mustafa said. Middle East Egypt tries to restart tourism during coronavirus pandemic Starting July 1, Egypt will reopen select resorts and archaeological sites to foreign tourists. Check with your destination's Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health or the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Information page for details about entry requirements and restrictions for arriving travelers. The Egyptian authorities may impose mandatory quarantine for visitors who test positive for coronavirus in a government isolation hospital, potentially in a remote location. Hurghada, on the Red Sea, is one of the beach cities slated for a modified reopening. “Many hotel reservations have been canceled and tourists can barely be seen at tourist sites.” If you test positive on arrival, you might be required to isolate. Legal notice | Some EU countries are gradually lifting mandatory quarantine on domestic travelers who return home as they reopen borders, but the German government's warning against travel outside the European Union will remain in place until at least August 31, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. But medical staff in urban centers have complained of an overwhelmed health care system and insufficient testing, while officials have spoken of the need to "coexist" with the virus. Lebanon and Tunisia have under 50. Authorities are gradually reopening Egypt's crucial tourism sector, even as the daily number of new infections within the country hovers at around 1,400, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Tourism accounts for up to 15% of Egypt’s gross domestic product (GDP) and officials have said the country was losing about $1 billion each month since COVID-19 shut borders and airports. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. DW has used either first names or avoided identifying the people in this story to protect their identities. Egypt is reopening its border with the hope of revamping a tourism industry that's been severely hurt by the coronavirus lockdown. Beaucoup de vols acheminant des touristes en Egypte ont été annulés pour tenter d'endiguer la propagation du virus, apparu en décembre en Chine. Follow entry requirements or restrictions at your destination which might include testing, quarantine, and providing contact information. Borders with Sudan and Libya are porous, and bandits and armed groups are active in these areas. "After the [2011] revolution, it took roughly seven years for business to build up slowly again," said the owner of a business that offers cruises on smaller traditional light-draft boats called dahabiyas. As reports about the coronavirus’ severity hit global media, February saw delays in Chinese imports at Egyptian ports, but companies listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) filed disclosures claiming their businesses wouldn’t be impacted by the outbreak. Restaurants, cafes, sports clubs and movie theaters are currently allowed … "Actually, this weekend you cannot find a single apartment to rent in El Gouna," he said, referring to a town just north of Hurghada. Egypt is not immune to the recessionary trends caused by the sudden halt in supply chains and the sharp decline in demand, domestically and globally, resulting from the rapid spread of the virus. For more information about this message, please visit this page: Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19 in Egypt, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He had managed to keep paying his 150 crew members, he said, but many other cruise operators began laying staff off as soon as authorities announced the arrival of the virus. You might be prevented from returning to the United States as scheduled. ", Bringing back his staff and preparing his boats for a short, weak season before the quiet winter months will cost Faisal, and low demand from international tourists who have lost their own livelihoods, means there will be no "V-shaped recovery," he said. If you get sick in Egypt, you might need medical care. COVID-19 has disrupted both supply and demand around the world. As of Monday, both Egypt and Algeria had between 400 and 500 reported fatalities from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Read more: Egypt muzzles critical journalists on the coronavirus. But Egypt is also trying to boost the limited reopening by waiving tourist visa requirements for resort areas, offering steep discounts to airlines and launching a new advertising campaign. Privacy Policy | At the beginning of the year, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that Egypt's tourism sector had flourished in 2019, recording a 21% jump in growth, with more than 13.5 million tourists. Egypt reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 8, when a 60-year old German tourist tested positive. If you suspect that a traveler has COVID-19, see Information for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19) for information on evaluating, reporting, clinical care guidance, and infection control. Mustafa has been exploring the Red Sea waters off Hurghada for 15 years as a freelance scuba diving instructor. "Everyone was getting to eat meat and think of festivities and everything else when [the pandemic] hit," the cruise operator said. Attacks on security checkpoints and forces are expected to continue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Egypt has been ranked first across Africa, third in the Middle East, and 25th globally in the COVID-19 resilience ranking issued by Bloomberg, an infographic published by the Egyptian cabinet's Information and Decision Support Centre showed on Saturday. COVID-19 risk in Egypt is high. Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Read more: After the revolution, Egypt’s tourism industry fears for future, "I've yet to see how this will happen," said Faisal, who owns a diving company and also charters boats from his fleet. The idea behind the move was to protect the country from visitors who may have been infected with the coronavirus and would then spread it once in Egypt. CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Egypt. Get tested with a viral test 1–3 days before your trip, keep a copy of your results with you during travel. Clinicians should obtain a detailed travel history for patients with symptoms of COVID-19 infection. South Africa began reopening to tourism on Oct. 1, and according to the U.S. Embassy, as of Nov. 11, U.S. citizens can now enter South Africa for tourism purposes, but they need to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours from the time of departure, or they must remain in mandatory quarantine for 14 days at their own cost. Egypt is implementing 14-day quarantine periods and other preventative measures in all cases. Some examples of essential travel may include traveling for humanitarian aid work, medical reasons, or family emergencies. You might have been exposed to COVID-19 during your travels. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Delay travel if you are waiting for test results, test positive, are sick, or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. If you must travel, talk to your doctor ahead of travel, especially if you are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Test results must be presented in paper format only. "Corona is worldwide, and therefore the impediments are air travel and if they find a cure or preventative," he said. “Coronavirus has really affected tourism here,” Mohamed said. If you don't get tested, it's safest to stay home for 10 days after travel. After you travel, take the following steps to protect others from getting sick for 14 days after travel: Take these actions to protect others from getting sick: See CDC's After You Travel page for more information. ", The Karnak temple in Luxor is one of the sites that will gradually reopen starting July 1. Travelers should avoid all travel to Egypt. You might feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can be contagious without symptoms and can spread the virus to others. Le visa de tourisme peut être obtenu auprès d’un consulat égyptien, à l’arrivée en Egypte ou en ligne sur le site visa2egypt.gov.eg (demande à déposer au moins sept jours avant le départ). You can find more information in our data protection declaration. We use cookies to improve our service for you. A health worker wearing protective gear prepares to take swab sample from a man in his car to test for the coronavirus at a drive-through COVID-19 screening center at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, June 17, 2020. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Despite efforts by … President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said community awareness is the "true vaccine" to deal with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, urging citizens to take precautions, amid the remarkable rise in infections. If you travel, take the following steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19: Get tested with a viral test 1–3 days before traveling back to the United States. If traveling by air, check if your airline requires any health information, test results, or other documents. Contact The COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the longer term, Egypt's tourism sector will be reliant on a global recovery, said the cruise operator in Luxor, who has seen his 20-year-old business buffeted by various upheavals. For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page. EGYPT has introduced new travel restrictions for anyone entering the country, with tourists forced to have a negative coronavirus test to be allowed to … Plan ahead and learn more about Getting Health Care During Travel. Many sailboat tour companies on the Nile in Luxor have laid off their staff. Egypt has new COVID-19 entry requirements that all travellers need to follow when entering the country. If you intend to travel to these areas, consider the risks to your personal safety and ensure you have made appropriate security arrangements. Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days. The pandemic upended those projections. In the Upper Egyptian city of Luxor, tour guide Eman Mohamed has sensed a notable decline in tourists over the past month, after the outbreak of the coronavirus. Travellers from all countries must have proof of a negative PCR test certificate for COVID-19 performed no more than 48 hours before arriving. If you get sick with COVID-19 or test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 while abroad, you might not be permitted to return to the United States until you can end isolation. The virus was confirmed to have reached Egypt on 14 February 2020. Saving Lives, Protecting People, increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Information page, Information for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19), Know When to Delay Your Travel to Avoid Spreading COVID-19, How CDC Determines the Level of a Destination’s COVID-19 Travel Health Notice, US Department of State: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ), Obtención de atención médica en el extranjero, Zika: A CDC Guide for Travelers infographic, Guidelines for US Citizens and Residents Living in Areas with Zika, Introduction to Travel Health & the CDC Yellow Book. Egypt even topped several "best tourist destination" lists for 2020, including one by the US business magazine Forbes. But, in Hurghada, some tourism operators are doubtful that it will bring about a quick recovery. Egypt has seen far fewer cases of the virus compared with countries of similar population size, such as Germany. If you had a known exposure to COVID-19 while traveling. These are also places where it can be hard to social distance. "If they come through with that in a couple of years — once people get some assurance they're not going to die — then I think it'll pick back up, if they have the money. Tourism accounts for up to 15% of Egypt's gross domestic product (GDP) and officials have said the country was losing about $1 billion each month since Covid-19 shut borders and airports. Do not travel if your test result is positive; immediately isolate yourself, and follow public health recommendations. Official warnings about a second wave of coronavirus infections are widely dismissed. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. He sanitizes his gear and follows special safety measures, as recommended by the global Professional Association of Diving Instructors. How do I view different file formats (PDF, DOC, PPT, MPEG) on this site? Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority has reduced transit fees for cruise ships in a bid to attract more traffic and boost the country’s sagging tourism sector. Where tourists come from will limit the speed of any recovery. What is the impact of COVID-19 on Egypt’s economy? He was optimistic after Egyptian authorities announced that they would reopen his city and other major beachside destinations — including Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Marsa Matruh — to international tourism on July 1. Tourism is said to account for more than 12% of Egypt's GDP A wonder of the world, the pyramids at Giza have wowed visitors for millennia. Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. But what will it take to get Egypt's tourism … For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. Egyptian military and security personnel are also engaged in security operations in the area. As of March 30, the Ministry of Health has reported 609 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 132 patients have recovered and 40 died of the disease. ", Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin, © 2020 Deutsche Welle | Starting July 1, Egypt will reopen select resorts and archaeological sites to foreign tourists. In Egypt’s bustling capital people pack shops, cafes and public transport, many of them disregarding the rules that they should wear face masks in these spaces and keep one meter apart. Touri… "I think it's going to be a very tough climb. On March 9, the Government of Egypt also announced that it would provide COVID-19 tests at a cost of 70 USD for foreigners and 1,050 Egyptian pounds for Egyptians. Egypt begins process to contract 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine Egypt’s Cabinet has mandated that the Ministers of Finance and Health take every step possible to provide coronavirus vaccines, including contracting with the Vaccine Alliance Gavi for around 20 million doses, an official statement said on Wednesday. If you travel, take steps before, during, and after travel to keep yourself and others from getting COVID-19. "That business has seen a boom because Egyptians can't go anywhere now, and in reality there are more Egyptians that can't fly out of Cairo for tourism abroad than tourists that would come to Egypt," Faisal said. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. | Mobile version, Egypt muzzles critical journalists on the coronavirus, Tunisia nears zero coronavirus cases as it eyes tourism, After the revolution, Egypt’s tourism industry fears for future. Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Now, operators he works with have already started taking international reservations and he said had seen an increase in sales from his diving equipment business. Find out more about When to Delay Travel. Egypt has started operating its hotels once more after almost a month and a half of closure due to coronavirus, amid hopes that the move will put the tourism … Tourism accounts for up to 15% of Egypt’s GDP and officials have said the country has been losing about $1bn each month since Covid-19 shut borders and airports. If you don't get tested, it's safest to stay home for 10 days. Back on March 19th, the Egyptian government, following in the footsteps of health and tourism officials around the world, closed its borders to all international travel. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced on Monday it has extended its facilities for the tourism sector and its workers for six months amid the ongoing COVID … If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 during travel, you might be quarantined and not be permitted to return to the United States until your quarantine is lifted. Some sources in Egypt have been sensitive about commenting on the coronavirus pandemic after a number of people were arrested for criticizing the government's response. When it comes to tourism, coexisting appears to mean balancing a careful resumption of business and the need to restart an industry that accounts for about 15% of the economy, according to analysts quoted by Reuters. Similar conditions for Egyptians unable to travel abroad has contributed to a spike in domestic tourism, Faisal said. Said el-Batouti, an Egyptian economic adviser to the UNWTO, told the state-run Middle East News Agency that Egypt could expect more than 15 million visitors, spearheaded by a wave of renewed interest from German tourists. Travelers should avoid all travel to Egypt. But, with a vaccine for the new coronavirus still far off, the country's crippled tourism sector faces a long road. "If you are a business and you're operating at 50% capacity, you're losing money, so maybe I'd rather not be open and restart the engines If they have any restrictions on capacity and so on: That's going to be difficult. In Luxor, on the Nile, where Egypt's first major spike of cases was recorded among tourists on a river cruise in March, expectations of a good year ahead had been high. CDC twenty four seven. Along with softer-hit resort cities, major archaeological sites will slowly reopen with restrictions and airports and many hotels will resume operations while monitoring the health of incoming visitors. As in other countries, Egypt’s economy is being impacted both through virus containment measures as well as through the sudden stop in tourism, fall in exports, drop in remittances, and lower revenue from the Suez Canal. Egypt's gradual reopening is intended to staunch such damage. As of the evening of December 2, there were 116,724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,694 deaths in Egypt. The previous rule was 72 hours. Tourism accounts for up to 15% of Egypt’s gross domestic product (GDP) and officials have said the country was losing about $1 billion each month since COVID-19 shut borders and airports. All Egypt’s famed archaeological sites and museums from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor have been shut since Monday as authorities try to prevent coronavirus …