Travel to Egypt, The new rules for Italians tourists

Before traveling to Egypt, it is necessary to have one of the following requirements:

Vaccination certificate with valid QR code or certified by the Egyptian embassy / consulate in the country of departure. The vaccine received must be approved by the WHO and the Egyptian Drug Authority and the second dose must have been given for vaccinations requiring two doses (Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Sinovac and Sinopharm) or the first dose for vaccinations that require a single dose (Johnson & Johnson and Sputnik light) at least 14 days before entering Egypt.
If you do not have a vaccination certificate, you must submit a negative Pcr certificate, antigen rapid test or Id Now performed in the country of departure no more than 72 hours before the departure of the direct flight to Egypt
The above requirements do not apply to children under the age of 12.

Covid-19 detection tests are available at international Egyptian airports and the cost of a PCR in major tourist cities - Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Taba, Luxor and Aswan - is around US $ 30.

As far as Italy is concerned, the Covid free tourist corridors are currently active for the tourist destinations of Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam. On the other hand, it is not possible to visit the rest of the country for tourist reasons, which is still in the E list of the Farnesina.

Returning to the rules of the country, Egypt invites tourists to wear masks in closed spaces, such as tourist buses, taxis, airplanes, airports, archaeological museums.

With regard to case management, those who test positive during their stay in Egypt must notify the management of the hotel in which they are staying (all hotels in the tourist governorates of Egypt have a doctor on call and a clinic). Hotels in Egypt are required to report positive cases of Covid-19 to the Ministry of Health.

In the event of a positive outcome, the traveler will be guided to a designated floor in the hotel or in an area in its vicinity, set up specifically for the quarantine of non-critical Covid-19 cases. The hotel will cover the cost of accommodation, food and soft drinks. A five-day self-isolation period is mandatory; if proof of a negative PCR exam is produced on the sixth day, the self-isolation period will end. If it is still positive, the isolation is extended for another five days, without the need for further tests later.

Critical cases, on the other hand, are immediately transferred to hospitals, where the Ministry of Health will cover the costs of drugs and treatments until complete recovery.

In the event of a longer stay, those arriving on a charter flight can take an alternative flight in coordination with their travel agent; those arriving with Egyptian airlines will be provided with an alternative flight (on the same airline originally booked) without penalty.

Anyone who has been in close contact with or shared a room with someone who tested positive will have to undergo a free medical examination by the Ministry of Health and will be able to stay at the hotel at no additional cost if they wish to continue their journey.

Staff employed in tourism (such as those who work in hotels, resorts, cafes, restaurants and bazaars) are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Accommodation and tourist facilities and activities, archaeological sites and museums must have the hygienic safety certificate, which guarantees the implementation of correct health and safety practices.

Certified hotels and facilities are subject to periodic inspections: the MoTA has formed joint committees in collaboration with the MoH to conduct regular inspections and, as of November 2021, five international companies specializing in sanitary and hygienic safety measures - in collaboration with the ministry , the Egyptian Federation of Tourism and the Egyptian Hotels Association (Eha) - have started inspecting hotels. Violations result in the suspension of the plant license.