Developement Fee?

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Developement Fee?

Post by HEPZIBAH »

Has anyone seen any other information on this news item?

Government to charge tourists $7 development fee

The Ministry of Tourism is imposing the fee for six months to prop up the sector, which collected 43% less revenue during the first quarter of 2014 than it did during the same period in 2013.

By Abdel Razek Al Shuwekhi

Beginning in June, the Ministry of Tourism is will impose a $7 development tax on tourists arriving in airports in Alexandria, South Sinai, Hurghada, Luxor and Aswan, according to ministry officials.

The fee, which would not be applied in Marsa Alam International Airport, would be enforced for six months, said Adala Ragab, economic advisor to Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou.

Egypt’s tourism income declined during the first quarter of this year to $1.3bn, down 43% from the same period last year, which prompted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May to raise the visa fee for tourists from $ 15 to $25.

Egyptian tourism companies have petitioned the Ministry of Tourism about the visa fee raise, saying the decision does not take into account the state of the industry since the 25 January Revolution, Ragab said.

Tourism employs 3.8 million workers directly and indirectly, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Ragab said, however, that the ministry “cannot repeal the development fee because parliament passed it as law.” She said the ministry is considering how to impose it.

The Ministry of Tourism imposed departure fees between $15 and $20 for more than five months at Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh Airports, which amounted to $122m. Rajab said the fees are playing a role in “supporting the sector during its crisis.”

Hisham Ali, president of the Tourism Investor Association of South Sinai, said the decision along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ decision to raise its visa fee from $15 to $25 per passenger, will support tourism However, he believes it would have been better if the ministry postponed the fee hike.

South Sinai contains 33% of the all hotel rooms in Egypt, which total 225,000 rooms.

The average occupancy rate is between 40% and 45%, he said. “I do not expect it to increase during the coming period,” he said.

Fifteen European countries issued travel warnings regarding the Sinai Peninsula last February after the bombing of a tourist bus near Taba on Egypt’s border with the occupied Palestinian territories.

European tourists account for 72% of all foreigners travelling to Egypt, Ali said. “European tourists only come via high-cost regulated airlines, compared to charter flights,” he said.

While the number of tourists from Western Europe has declined, tourists from Russia and Eastern Europe are still flocking to Egypt, Ali said. “Occupancy rates in Sharm El-Sheikh are higher than those in nearby destinations,” he said.


http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/05/1 ... pment-fee/


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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by BBLUX »

Makes twisted sense.
Those that come and support the economy by visiting cultural tourism area's will pay a small levy.

However if you fly in and out of Marsa Alam....purely sun and sea visitors pay nothing?? Theses tourists contribute virtually nothing to the local economy generally being all inclusive with the tour companies.

I don't get it :td
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by HEPZIBAH »

I was a little confused by Marsa Alam being exempted and yet no mention of Cairo at all. That's why I'm asking for more information. Other than the Rea Sea resorts, and even including them to a degree, the majority of tourist arrivals must surely be at Cairo these days. If this tax is to be implemented it doesn't make sense to exempt Cairo also - or does it? The article also says they haven't worked out how to implement it yet. Surely on arrival with a receipt or an extra stamp on the visa page in the passport would be a logical way to go.
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by Dusak »

So the next clutching at straws payment will probably be an extra charge on the expat visa. An environmental cleanup surcharge perhaps. The more they stick on the tourist, the less will come in, in my opinion.
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by Zooropa »

It didn't cost that much for the fake tomb did it?
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by carrie »

Wonder if you have to pay it if you have a multi re entry visa?
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by BBLUX »

The replica tomb was a gift to Egypt.

Is the reporting of the extra payment for tourists being confused with the increase in entry visa fee's.
If not it would seem to be a double increase for tourists...more muddled thinking :ni:
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by WIZARD »

Dusak wrote:.... The more they stick on the tourist, the less will come in, ....
My thoughts exactly Dusak. :?
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by HEPZIBAH »

I don't think so BBLux. The visa charge is active now and is an increase of $10. This article mentions a specific period of time and it includes Sharm el Sheik where they can't charge a visa fee because of the Camp David Agreement. It does seem to me to be a separate charge.
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by Zooropa »

BBLUX wrote:The replica tomb was a gift to Egypt.

Is the reporting of the extra payment for tourists being confused with the increase in entry visa fee's.
If not it would seem to be a double increase for tourists...more muddled thinking :ni:
Just like the extra fee then.
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by Zooropa »

I cant help but agree with another poster on a different site who hates being wrong so I can only assume he has researched his view point which was mirrored in part by BBlux , it seems that this fee is to compensate for the lack of tourism in Egypt and its aimed at the few people left still supporting tourism by visiting and the money so the other poster suggests is to be used to further develop the Red Sea area which is seen as more viable so its a double slap because an awful lot of people visiting Luxor have no interest in the Red Sea so the money is going towards somewhere they will never see and have no interest in visiting.

I appreciate that like the visa increase it does not represent a lot of money and wont put off those determined to come but that's just the point, those determined will come despite:

The increased visa fee

The new "development fee"

Increased flight prices

Increased security risk (whether there is or not)

More chance of having to come via Cairo

Increase in petty crime

yadda yadda yadda.

It is however, 2 extra reasons for other people not to change their minds.

I priced up a possible week in Luxor via Travel Republic for August - I actually laughed out loud.

The air ticket was £500 plus and involved flying from Heathrow at tea time arriving in Cairo at around midnight, a six hour wait at Cairo (at least your luggage should keep up with you!) arriving in Luxor at 7 am so you reach your hotel at 8am and travel republic charge you for 7 nights accommodation even though you have not and will not see a bed on the first night because you spent it at Cairo airport!

The final laugh came with the return which is late at night or early in the morning (whichever way you want to view it) so you basically have closer to 6 days than 7.

Oh how I took for granted the previous ease with which I could get a decent trip with plenty of reasonably priced options.
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by HEPZIBAH »

Don't start getting too upset yet. Save yourself some energy for when Departure Tax is announced. :evil:
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by carrie »

Just been speaking to my neighbour and she has booked two return flights from Hurgada to Brussels for 365 euro for the two, with Jetfly, so it looks like just the Brits are paying much higher air fares. Believe it or not she was complaining.
And she showed me the tickets on line with the confirmation.
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by Dusak »

I was reading the Beano this morning that my mate Mohammed the pushbike delivery boy sometimes gets for me dependent on the age of any tourist coming in. There was a very interesting news item from an unnamed source in Egypt. Apparently they are talking about implementing another part to the Development fee. This is to be know as the Bon Voyage fee.

As you land you will be fast tracked to the conveyor belt to wait for your luggage. Once you extend your digit and shout ''that one'' a bag boy will usher you to one side and take hold of said item. This will cost you $3, but the article states that it will save you any possible back problems arising from the quick skid bag grab which usually ends with the person throwing it back on to the conveyor belt when realizing that some knob 'ed had the ordasity to have the same coloured case as they did. You will get three goes [referred to as 'the merry go round payment'] around the carrousel before a surcharge kicks in, this is proposed at a level of an extra $5.

When your case has been successfully delivered into the hands of the bag boy, [if, in the unlikelihood that yours is the last case going around on the treadmill of death, then a one off stood around huffing and puffing surcharge would kick in, this being $5] It is then transported towards customs. The article states that there will be no transport charges for this journey, thus saving the traveler their much needed cash. The transporter will lift the case onto the desk for inspection by a personal customs officer specifically chosen to be of service to you. You will be asked two questions only by this specially trained officer. ''Have you anything to declare, yes or no.'' If you reply no, the items in your case will be minutely examined for all to see as they are spread neatly along the tables length. Any of what they consider to be taxable items like holiday clothes, indigestion tablets and Marmite will incur a cost of $4 an item, but if you choose the yes option then a one off payment of $20 is payed and you are ushered forwards to continue the Egyptian experience.

If you need a visa stamp then you will receive an Egyptian employed security guard to overshadow you as you remove your wallet/purse to complete the transaction. Please note, the article states that the visa charges will change on a daily basis to prevent fraud. There is no additional charge for this service but you can feel free to say thank you to the guard. A suggestion of $5 is made.

Once the bag boy reaches the automatic doors his job will end and the axillary baggage transport officer will appoint you a new handler which would be a trainee. The job of this up and coming freelancer would be to escort you and your case to the appointed mode of transport that you will hope to have waiting to leave the airport. The article states that if your suitcase has two wheels and a retractable handle then the cost would be $6, but if it has four wheels and a fixed handle the charge would increase to $8 as this case would require a longer time period of transportation as the case went in all directions apart from alatoul. If the case had no wheels nor handles then you would have the case held for you at customs until your departure date on health and safety issues, this storage would incur costs of $10 per day. The article goes to great lengths to state that toilets are free to those staying longer than a month, otherwise its $1 a pee or $2 to poo. Paper is three cents a sheet or ten for $1.

Once leaving the airport parking area, after the payment of $10 has been made you are then free to leave to enjoy your much earned rest in Egypt, land of the still living Pharaoh's. Once you have completed your holiday you will be surprised to discover that no further payments are required as you shout Bon Voyage to Egypt.

A footnote to the full page spread apart from adverts for giant gobstoppers in ten flavorless colours and silent fart cushions, the ideal companion for those bored little tykes on holiday, is the final statement. ''We here in Egypt believe in giving you, the holiday maker, a holiday that you will never forget.''

Footnote:- Please note that this advert was only made possible by the generous donations of our supporters. If you wish to help with further advertizements my we be so bold as to suggest a donation of just 2% of your yearly disposable income. Thanking you.

[suggested percentage may change yearly so we suggest filling in our online Cayman Islands direct debit form for your convenience.]
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

Check Flights from here Seattle Washington west coast USA to Luxor: $3,453.78 Total cost (and, at this price only two tickets left THEN the price DOUBLES to $6200+USD. I arbitrarily picked a leaving and returning dates: July 12th (Saturday) to a return July 26th (Saturday)........AND this flight will take you 49 hours/34 minutes airport to airport IF all goes well.........then to be charged an extra $10? Don't think people are going to line up to go from this neck of the woods......

This was a cut and paste.........

Select this departure
Leave Sat, Jul 12
10:46 PM
Seattle SEA

9:20 AM
Luxor LXR

2 stops
49hr 34min

United Airlines 1192
Qatar Airways 708 / 1321
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by Dusak »

In the UK LovelyLadyLux we call those travel times a weekend break. :lol:
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by Bombay »

British Airways to Cairo.
Outbound - Wednesday 25 June 2014
18:45
25 Jun 12:00
26 Jun Seattle-Tacoma International (WA) Heathrow (London) BA0048
British Airways World Traveller
18:15
26 Jun 00:05
27 Jun Heathrow (London) Cairo BA0155
British Airways World Traveller

Inbound - Saturday 12 July 2014
07:40
12 Jul 12:00
12 Jul Cairo Heathrow (London) BA0154
British Airways World Traveller
15:05
12 Jul 16:40
12 Jul Heathrow (London) Seattle-Tacoma International (WA) BA0049
British Airways World Traveller

Price
$2,565.06 1 passenger

Email price quote

Baggage allowance

Currency calculator

Change flights
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

@ Bombay - I just checked Seattle to Cairo on Cheaptickets for those dates and the cost was $1344!!! However when you then change the flight parameters to Luxor there is now ONE ticket for sale at $2498 and all the rest just back up into the $3200+ range.

VERY INTERESTING prices - cause if anybody here was just checking Seattle (and SeaTac Airport has a humungo catchment area) to Luxor they're going to see a totally ridiculous prohibitive Airfare price. IF Seattle to Cairo is checked the prices become realistic. I was paying 'about' $1100 a few years back.

Methinks Luxor is getting the poopy end of the stick on this one.
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by Bombay »

Better of booking CAI LXR CAI separately. Don't know how close you are to Vancouver BA fly to Heathrow from there or you could try Toronto but Egyptair want 9500le end of June Toronto to Cairo and about the same from JFK the 25th is 3 days before Ramadan so could be higher than usual.
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Re: Developement Fee?

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

@ Bombay - I'm in Canada and logistically closer to Vancouver airport BUT all airfares are higher from there so I always make the trek to Seattle and fly out of SeaTac. When I was coming to Egypt I did fly British Airways or KLM SeaTac to either Heathrow or Schiphol airport to Cairo and would then take the train to Luxor. On departing Luxor I'd always fly Egyptair back to Cairo.

My point was that for those tourists, those people who really do not travel much or often and who are not aware or who need travel to be simple if they simple plug in Seattle to Luxor it is going to give them such a high price tag they'll balk at the trip.
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