15/12/2023
Maritime transport sector: Various and distinct measures to maximize yacht tourism in Egypt
• Issuing a single approval for the tourist yacht visit program through the single digital window for foreign yachts takes only 30 minutes instead of 15-30 days previously.
• Allowing foreign yachts to depart from any tourist port or marina without being restricted from departing from the arrival port or marina.
• Granting foreign tourists arriving in the Arab Republic of Egypt on board foreign tourist yachts a tourist residence permit for a period of 3 months instead of one month.
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The Maritime Transport Sector of the Egyptian Ministry of Transport issued a media statement regarding the measures that are currently being implemented to maximize yacht tourism in Egypt and simplify and speed up its procedures upon the arrival and departure of foreign yachts from the tourist ports and marinas located on the coasts of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The sector’s statement indicated that a single digital window has been created for foreign yachts to simplify these procedures, and the Ministry of Transport (Maritime Transport Sector) is responsible for managing, operating and supervising it. This window is an electronic website on the international information network through which the yacht owner or his representative can By entering the data of the yacht and passengers, uploading the required documents and documentation, arrival date, the port required to dock, and the entire trip program, as is done in the leading countries in this field, and where the digital window sends them automatically to the concerned authorities to review the required data, documents, and interviews, and send their approvals to the official window website in the maritime transport sector. To issue one approval for the visit program within 30 minutes, in implementation of the directives of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, and to issue one invoice for the foreign yacht to be collected electronically through the window in US dollars, noting that completing the procedures for foreign tourist yachts previously required a period of 15-30 days.
The statement pointed out that a link has been placed on the website of the single digital window for foreign yachts to the official websites of the Passports, Immigration and Nationality Department to obtain an electronic visa for the entry of passengers on board the yacht, as well as to the official website of the Suez Canal Authority to complete the procedures for the foreign yacht to cross the international navigational channel “Suez Canal” if It was within the yacht’s voyage program and according to the departure and arrival location. It was also noted that a unified code was issued for the establishment and operation of marinas and ports in the Arab Republic of Egypt to be a guide for all dealers that includes (specifications of berths, capacity, services provided, and communication channels with the Egyptian ports and marinas currently established - a statement of procedures and approvals). What must be taken to establish an international marina to receive foreign yachts directly or to establish a local marina - List the concerned authorities, their tasks and requirements in terms of construction, equipment and equipment, which must be available in international ports and marinas to complete the procedures for foreign yachts coming to Egypt - An explanation of all the interfaces of the single digital window for foreign yachts and how to deal with them - List All laws, decisions and executive regulations regulating the establishment, operation and management of ports and tourist marinas.
In addition, a unified tariff has been set for the trawler fees on all docks, passenger stations, and tourist ports affiliated with the Ministry of Transport, in one currency, to avoid the problem of conflicting trawler fees for foreign yachts in Egyptian ports, with no interference in trawler interviews and the provision of services at private tourist ports, which will be announced through the window. Digital single for foreign yachts, launch
Freedom for visitors of foreign yachts to choose the place of berth (public commercial port / private marina), according to the announced prices, services provided, and the tourist attraction to be visited. It is also part of the measures taken by the Egyptian government to maximize yacht tourism in Egypt and simplify its procedures, allowing foreign yachts to leave from anywhere. A tourist port or marina without being restricted to departure from the arrival port or marina.
It is worth noting that the address of the official page of the single window for foreign yacht tourism on the International Information Network (the Internet) is: -
www.mts.gov.eg
The statement also indicated that, in continuation of the efforts made by the Egyptian state to solve all the problems and obstacles facing foreign yachts frequenting ports and tourist marinas on the Egyptian coast, and in an effort to thus maximize the state’s resources, directives were issued by the Prime Minister during the Council of Ministers meeting held on 17 /5/2023 for the relevant ministries to take the necessary measures regarding extending the validity period of the tourist visa for passengers on foreign yachts to be “3 months” instead of “30 days” as a result of the fluctuations that visitors of foreign yachts may face from natural factors or emergency situations (bad weather conditions - malfunctions that prevent the yacht From departure - ...) and the inability to commit to leaving the yacht outside the country at the appropriate times for the requirements of safe sailing for the crew and passengers.”
In implementation of this, a decision was issued by the Ministry of Interior (General Administration of Passports, Immigration and Nationality) in this regard, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued directives to all Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad to grant foreign tourists arriving in the Arab Republic of Egypt on board foreign tourist yachts a tourist residence permit for a period of 3 months instead of one month.
تتمتع جمهورية مصر العربية بموقع جغرافى متميز بين ملتقى ثلاث قارات تمتد سواحلها أكثر من ألفي ميل بحري وتطل على بحرين هما البحر المتوسط والأحمر وتربطهما قناة السويس و...
