Egypt State Information Service (Cairo)
30 December 2011
The tourism movement in Egypt will not be affected by the enforcement of the Schengen biometric visa on North African nationals including Egyptians, said spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Amr Roshdi.
Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr had decided to apply the principle of reciprocity on Schengen countries’ nationals, he said.
Roshdi said Amr’s decision in this respect was very clear and takes into account mechanisms for boosting the flow of tourists into the country, given the fact that tourism is a main source of national income.
This decision will go into force on January 15 and be implemented on Schengen countries’ officials and holders of official passports, diplomatic or special missions as well as holders of ordinary passports, according to the spokesman.
The European Union Visa Information System (VIS) is a database containing information, including biometrics, on visa applications by Third Country Nationals requiring a visa to enter the Schengen group. The system was established in June 2004.
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