The Egyptian Cabinet, during its virtual meeting Wednesday, approved a number of important decisions, including agreeing to exempt tourists arriving on direct flights from paying visa fees through October 31, 2020, the end of the summer tourist season.
The measure comes with the aim of giving Egypt a competitive advantage in the tourism market, reviving business at Egyptian tourist destinations, and bringing back the flow of tourism once international air travel resumes.
Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation had previously agreed to grant a 50 percent discount on accommodation and landing fees in all tourist cities for charter trips, and a 20 percent discount on ground services at all tourist cities.
The Cabinet also approved a draft resolution amending some provisions of the executive regulations on distance education, specifically regarding vacations and online exams.
In addition, the Cabinet approved an agreement on debt owed by EgyptAir to Misr Petroleum Company.
The agreement included restructuring the debt over eights years and canceling 50 percent of the interest imposed on delayed repayment.
The agreement also granted EgyptAir one year before it has to begin repaying the debt.
The Cabinet also approved decisions and recommendations issued by the ministerial committee meeting to resolve investment disputes at its 63rd session on June 1, 2020, part of the government’s efforts to create an attractive climate for investment.
The Cabinet took action to approve the decisions and recommendations issued by the June 3 Ministerial Engineering Committee meeting regarding investment by direct order to complete 24 projects.
The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Ministry of Finance to start work on patterns of model contracts, starting the new fiscal year in July.
The Cabinet also instructed the Public Authority for Governmental Services to coordinate with concerned authorities regarding the automation of model contracts.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
