From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Egypt Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 12:17:27 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1492 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199710170820_MC2-2436-A004@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 179 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Egypt ============================================================ Egypt - Consular Information Sheet October 1, 1997 Country Description: Egypt is a developing country with extensive facilities for tourists. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. For travelers arriving by air, a renewable 30-day tourist visa can be obtained at airport points of entry. Visitors arriving overland and by sea, or those previously experiencing difficulty with their visa status in Egypt, must obtain a visa prior to arrival. Military personnel arriving on commercial flights are not exempt from passport and visa requirements. Proof of yellow fever and cholera immunization is required, if arriving from an infected area. Evidence of an AIDS test is required for everyone staying over 30 days. For additional entry information, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, 3521 International Court, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. 202-895-5400, or the Egyptian consulates in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, or Houston. Areas of Instability: For the past several years, Egyptian extremist groups seeking to destabilize the government have attacked targets in Egypt, including Egyptian police, security officials, and tourists. Most of these attacks have occurred in the Nile Valley provinces of Minya, Assiut, Sohag and Qena. There was one major attack in Cairo in 1996, in which tourists were targeted and killed. In September, 1997, there was another fatal attack against tourists in Cairo. The overall number of terrorist incidents throughout the country, however, decreased in 1996, and continued to decline in 1997 as a result of efforts by the government of Egypt to police extremist groups. Travel in Egypt is safer now than in the period prior to 1996. Nonetheless, all travelers to Egypt should exercise caution. Before traveling to the Nile Valley provinces of Minya, Assiut, Sohag and Qena, travelers should seek advice from the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy, licensed tour operators, and/or the tourist police authorities responsible for those areas. Restricted Areas: Those wishing to visit areas near Egypt's frontiers, including oases near the border with Libya and off-road areas in the Sinai, must obtain permission from the Travel Permits Department of the Ministry of the Interior, located at the corner of Sheikh Rihan and Nubar Streets in downtown Cairo. Travelers should also be aware of the possible dangers of off-road travel. Leftover mines from previous conflicts remain buried in several regions of the country and have caused several deaths, including deaths of Americans. As a rule, all travelers should check with local authorities before embarking on off-road travel. Because known mine fields are not marked by signs, but are usually enclosed by barbed wire, travelers should particularly avoid areas enclosed by barbed wire. After heavy rains, which can cause flooding in desert areas, and the consequent shifting of land mines, travelers should avoid driving through build-ups of sand on roadways. Medical Facilities: There are many Western-trained medical professionals in Egypt. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo can provide a list of local hospitals and English-speaking physicians. Medical facilities are adequate for non-emergency matters, particularly in the areas where most tourists visit. Emergency and intensive care facilities are, however, limited. Facilities outside of Cairo fall short of U.S. standards. Most Nile cruise boats do not have a ship's doctor, but some employ a medical practitioner with the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor's degree. Hospital facilities are available in Luxor and Aswan, but are extremely limited at most other ports of call. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The U.S. Embassy highly recommends that travelers evaluate their local policies and consider purchasing traveler's insurance, if their policies do not cover overseas treatment or medevacs. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate payment in cash for treatment. Beaches on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts are generally unpolluted; however, there is a strong risk of exposure to the bilharzia parasite when swimming in the Nile or canals, walking barefoot along the river or drinking untreated river water. Bilharzia can cause extensive tissue damage, kidney failure and blindness. The risk of exposure to rift valley fever (RVF) exists throughout Egypt. RVF is a disease of domestic animals that can infect humans and which flares up in parts of the country from time to time. Preventive measures include avoiding freshly slaughtered meat and known areas of infestation. Properly prepared, thoroughly cooked meat in tourist hotels, Nile cruise boats, and tourist restaurants is considered safe. Additional information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559 or via the cdc home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: The crime rate in Egypt is low. While incidents of violence are rare, purse snatching, pickpocketing and petty theft are not uncommon. Unescorted women are vulnerable to sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Travelers and foreign residents are subject to Egyptian laws. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security, and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets, "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa." They are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: Travelers are subject to the laws and legal practices of the country in which they travel. Drug enforcement policies in Egypt are very strict. The death penalty may be imposed on anyone convicted of smuggling or selling marijuana, hashish, opium, LSD, or other narcotics. Law enforcement authorities prosecute and seek fines and imprisonment in cases of possession of even small quantities of drugs. Customs Requirements: Travelers are no longer required to convert foreign currency into Egyptian pounds upon entry. The maximum amount of Egyptian currency which can be brought into or taken out of Egypt is 1000 Egyptian pounds. Personal use items such as jewelry, laptop computers, and electronic equipment are exempt from customs fees. Merchandise and samples require an import/export license issued by the Egyptian Embassy or an Egyptian consulate in the U.S. prior to travel and should be declared upon entry. Photography Requirements: Egyptian law allows for the imposition of duties on photographic and video equipment. Such duties are rarely imposed, however, except when large quantities of photographic equipment or expensive video equipment are brought into Egypt. Persons bringing in such items should be prepared to comply with certain customs formalities. There are restrictions on photographing military personnel and sites, bridges and canals. Dual Nationality: The government of Egypt considers all children born to Egyptian fathers to be Egyptian citizens. Even if the children bear American passports, immigration officials may require proof that the father approves their departure before the children will be allowed to leave Egypt. Americans married to Egyptians do not need their spouse's permission to depart Egypt as long as they have a valid Egyptian visa. To renew a visa, or to leave the country after a visa has expired, an American woman married to an Egyptian must present proof of the husband's consent. Dual Egyptian-American nationals may enter and leave Egypt on their U.S. passports. If a dual national resides in Egypt for extended periods, proof of Egyptian citizenship, such as a family I.D. card, is required. Male dual nationals of military age, who have not completed military service, are not generally required to enlist in the armed forces; however, before they can leave Egypt, they must obtain an exemption certificate through the Ministry of Defense Draft Office. Individuals who may be affected can inquire at an Egyptian consular office abroad before traveling to Egypt. Persons with dual nationality who travel to Egypt on their Egyptian passports are normally treated as Egyptian citizens. U.S. consular assistance to such persons is extremely limited. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: The roads in Egypt can be hazardous, particularly at night outside of major cities, because vehicles sometimes travel with few or no lights. Fatal accidents have occurred. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and obtain updated information on travel and security within Egypt. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo is located on Lazoughli Street, Garden City, near downtown Cairo. The mailing address from the U.S. is American Embassy Cairo, APO AE 09839-4900; from Egypt, it is 8 Kamal el-Din Salah Street, Cairo. The telephone number is [20] (2) 355-7371. The Consular Section telephone number is [20] (2) 357-2201; the Consular Section fax number is [20] (2) 357-2472. The workweek in Egypt is Sunday through Thursday. No. 97-144 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 31, 1997, to update the information on areas of instability, customs requirements, and photography requirements. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories