U.S. Lifts Travel Restrictions for Egypt

 

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The U.S. Department of State has lifted its Travel Warning for Egypt, downgrading it to a Travel Alert citing “continuing improvements since the Jan. 25 Revolution” and noting that the “U.S. Embassy in Cairo has resumed normal operations.” This alert replaces the official travel warning dated on March 29.

The Travel Alert also noted that the “security situation in Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea Resorts, including Sharm el Sheikh, continues to be calm.” However, the State Department Travel Alert also mentioned that U.S. citizens traveling to Egypt should be prepared for the “possibility of sporadic unrest.” 

To read the entire Travel Alert, click here.

Recently, a group of U.S. travel leaders and members from the NTA (formerly known as the National Tour Association), U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and other leading travel associations embarked on a six-day visit to Egypt and Jordan . The purpose of their visit was to restore confidence in travel to those destinations, both of which recently endured political unrest and protests earlier this year and have since seen their tourism numbers drop dramatically.

During their visit, the leaders held meetings with the Chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, H.E. Amr ElEzabi, and Minister of Antiquities, H.E. Dr. Zahi Hawass, as well as H.E. Ambassador Margaret Scobey, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, regarding the possibility of lifting U.S. travel restrictions to Egypt.