The Foreign Ministry announced new regulations for tourists from Iran and Iraq on Thursday.
Egypt would agree to welcome tourist groups restricted in size from 50 to 100 individuals from the two countries, said Ali al-Ashry, the assistant foreign minister for consular affairs and Egyptian expatriates.
Iranians and Iraqis would also have unique visa rates, he added.
In addition, only three Egyptian travel agencies would be allowed to coordinate the arrival and departure of tourist groups originating from these countries, and they would be under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism.
Iranian tourists would be permitted to visit certain areas, such as Luxor, Aswan, Sharm al-Sheikh and Hurghada, Ashry said. Iraqi tourist groups would be permitted to visit Cairo.
The ministry would evaluate the revenues from this new sector of tourism every four months, Ashry said. The Iranian and Iraqi tourist groups will start arriving in Egypt soon, he added.
The first direct flight route between Iran and Egypt will be opened in a few weeks, said Minister of Civil Aviation Wael al-Maddawy. Flights will arrive in Luxor and Aswan, as agreed upon by Tourism Minister Hesham Zaazou and Iranian officials.
Edited translation from MENA
