Egypt will from next month roll out a digital visa-on-arrival system at Cairo International Airport, replacing the traditional visa sticker with a QR code that travelers can obtain before departure, during their flight or upon arrival.
The digital visa, which will cost $36, is expected to reduce waiting times, simplify entry procedures and enhance the travel experience for millions of visitors to the North African country.
The initiative that forms part of Egypt's broader strategy to boost tourism by making travel more convenient and positioning the country to attract significantly more international visitors comes as the tourism sector continues to rebound strongly, with visitor arrivals rising 16 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year despite regional geopolitical tensions.
Sherif Fathy, minister of tourism and antiquities, said citizens of 118 countries are eligible to obtain visas on arrival at Egyptian airports.
"The new system allows travelers to purchase the visa up to 48 hours before arrival," he said in an interview with Egyptian media last week.
