The Marsa Alam International Airport on Saturday received 16 domestic and international flights carrying 2,000 tourists on board from Switzerland, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic internationally and several domestic flights with Egyptians.
The Red Sea Health Directorate prepared medical teams to conduct medical examinations on all passengers, to ensure the tourists are free of COVID-19 and had previously conducted a test before their arrival at the airport.
Egypt had suspended flights and tourism in March as part of measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Traffic in all Egyptian airports resumed since July 1, in accordance with Egypt’s preventive and precautionary measures to coexist with the coronavirus.
Beginning September 1, all local and foreign passengers were demanded to provide a PCR analysis document proving they tested negative for coronavirus within 72 hours of reaching Egyptian territory.
Egypt’s tourism sector, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the country’s economy, has experienced a slump in tourism since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Aviation, has launched several campaigns to revive the industry.
However, a severe second wave of the virus sweeping the US and Europe have prompted further lockdowns, curfews, and travel restrictions, again slowing the influx of tourists.
