G Adventures says it has yet to receive formal confirmation of a change to the entry requirements for Canadian travellers intending to travel to Egypt but expects that Canadians will be required to obtain a visa effective Oct. 1 as announced a week ago on Global Affairs Canada’s travel page for Egypt. UPDATED TO INCLUDE CATO RESPONSE
The Toronto-based tour operator says Egypt’s embassy in Canada has been “impossible” to reach for clarification and direction.
“We are in the process of seeking official confirmation from Egyptian authorities in Canada and have notified our travellers departing in September that they will require an e-visa for entry. We will keep travellers updated as and when we have more concrete information to share.”
After September, Canadians will have to obtain a visa from the Egyptian embassy / consulate in Ottawa or Montreal before travelling to Egypt, says Global Affairs.
Previously, travellers could get a visa upon arrival in Cairo, or obtain an e-visa before departure.
David Green, managing director for G Adventures, says it’s disappointing to have received little warning of these new visa changes, which, he says, “do little to support Canadian travellers.”
As such, G is calling on members of CATO and ACTA to raise the issue with the government “as this new visa rule needs to be reversed or, at the very least, delayed,” says Green.
He adds, “This is a blow to both Canadian travel agents trying to support their clients and operators like G Adventures that send thousands of travellers to Egypt each year. Other than the announcement that was made, there have been no details provided around the process to obtain visas. It has also proven impossible to reach the embassy for clarification on the new process.
“An online application form should be the minimum expectation, which doesn’t appear to be available beyond September. We hope common sense will prevail and at the very least the visa changes are delayed until a later date, allowing more notice for travellers and for efficient processes to be established. Failure to do so will lead to thousands of Canadian travellers cancelling their travel plans to Egypt.”
The CBC reported that an email from the Egyptian embassy in Ottawa sent to Egyptian-Canadians claimed the rule change is a response to Canadian measures that deny visas to Egyptian citizens and stating that those measures are “offensive in nature to the dignity of the Egyptian state.”
On Thursday Sept 07, CATO responded:
EGYPT VISA – CATO CALLS FOR FLEXIBLE MEASURES
The Canadian Association of Tour Operators, known as CATO, is expressing its shock over the new travel restrictions that Canadian tourists must face when traveling to Egypt. Many reports have been circulating lately about these new requirements. Canadian travelers are no longer able to obtain a visa upon arriving in Cairo. Instead, they must request their visa in person at the Egyptian Embassy located in Ottawa or Montréal or send a postal application. Whether applying in person or by mail, these changes bring added unwanted complexity to the traveler. This is clearly prohibitive for anyone. This new regulation is effective as of October 1st, 2023.
This change presents a significant issue for tourists who are leaving in October and will likely cause frustration for those departing later, especially for group travelers. These new restrictions could also potentially decrease the interest of many Canadian travelers and discourage them from visiting Egypt. These changes create barriers against selling Egypt to Canadian citizens, and CATO members have indicated an increased number of calls from worried travelers and travel agents due to these abrupt changes.
CATO hopes that the Egyptian Authority will understand the importance of Canadian business in Egypt and recognize the pivotal role that tour operators play as partners to the destination and its tourism business. CATO urges the government in Egypt to reconsider these restrictions and, if not upon arrival in Egypt, to at least allow an ongoing permanent online application form. Additionally, we ask for more lead time with these changes.
“CATO is working hard to reach out to government officials and representatives at the Egyptian Embassy for a resolution to this situation that will benefit everyone impacted”, said Jean Hébert, Executive Director at CATO.
Jean Hébert, Executive DirectorCATO can be contacted at:
613-884-5147
jhebert5757@gmail.com