The Hindu

Egypt to introduce more flights from India

December 14, 2006

New Delhi (PTI): To give an impetus to the growing India-Egypt ties, the number of flights between the two countries are expected to grow to seven a week in the next six months.

The country is looking to add flights from cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Currently only Egypt Air is operating flights between the two countries, flying twice a week from Mumbai.

To boost business and tourist travel, the Egyptian government has made a provision to give visa on arrival, relaxing norms and making it easier for tourists to visit the country, Tourism Counsellor at the Egyptian Consulate in Mumbai, Samy Mahmoud, said.

He said his country would also make efforts to increase the flow of Indian tourists and promote Egypt both as a stop-over and transit destination.

"In 2005, we had 57,000 Indian tourists in Egypt and from January to November this year the number stands at 60,000," he added.

(Excerpts)