Wayzata World Factbook 1994/World Factbook - 1994 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1994).iso/pc/text/txtfiles/egypt.tvl

Text File | 1994-04-11 | 11KB | 173 lines

#CARD:Egypt:Travel\Consular Information
Egypt - Consular Information Sheet
March 1, 1994

Country Description:  Egypt is a developing country with extensive
facilities for tourists.  It is a popular destination for American
travelers, with over 150,000 American visitors each year.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and visa are required.  For those arriving
by air, a renewable 30-day tourist visa can be obtained at airport points of
entry.  Those 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.  Tourists must
register with local authorities (either through their hotels, at local
police stations, or at the central passport office) within seven days of
arrival.  For additional entry information, U.S. citizens can contact the
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, 2310 Decatur Place N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20008 (telephone [phone]), or the Egyptian consulates in San
Francisco, Chicago, New York, or Houston.

Areas of Instability:  Egyptian extremist groups seeking to overthrow the
government have staged violent attacks against Egyptian police and security
officials, Egyptian Christians and secular Muslim intellectuals.  In several
incidents, extremists have sought to cripple the Egyptian economy through
attacks on tourists, tour buses, and sites where tourists are likely to be
found.  These attacks have occurred in Cairo as well as in the southern
governorates of Assiyut, Minya and Qena, which lie between Cairo and Luxor.
All surface travel (bus, car, train, boat, etc.) through those southern
governorates is considered dangerous.

In February 1994, extremists threatened to escalate their anti-government
terrorist campaign.  They declared that foreign investors and tourists would
be targets of this stepped-up campaign, and called on foreigners to leave
Egypt.  There have been no specific threats singling out American citizens
or businesses in Egypt.  Nevertheless, incidents of extremist violence are
possible anywhere in the country.  The American Embassy in Cairo has
recommended that Americans traveling to or residing in Egypt heighten their
security awareness, maintain a low profile, and avoid calling undue
attention to themselves or their activities.

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.  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.  Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate
payment in cash for treatment.  Supplemental health insurance which
specifically covers overseas treatment has proved to be useful.  Temporary
visitors to Egypt generally drink bottled water and soft drinks and avoid
ice cubes.  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, having spread from its original
concentration along a 60-mile stretch of the Nile in the Kom Ombo area of
the Aswan governate.  RVF is primarily a disease of domestic animals, but it
can readily infect humans. The vast majority of cases of RVF in humans
result in only fever and flu-like symptoms, with complete recovery in a few
days.  In two to three percent of cases, however, RVF leads to liver
necrosis, encephalitis, and blindness.  Preventive measures include avoiding
farm animals (particularly those that appear ill), camels, freshly
slaughtered meat, mosquito bites, raw milk, and locally prepared cheese
products.  Properly prepared, thoroughly cooked meat in tourist hotels, Nile
cruise boats, and tourist restaurants is considered safe.  Additional
information on health problems can be obtained from the Centers for Disease
Control's international travelers hotline at [phone].

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.  A
U.S. citizen enjoys no special consideration simply because he or she is an
American.  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:  Everyone entering Egypt must declare items such as
jewelry, electronic equipment, and other valuables.  This requirement is
strictly enforced.  Any valuables not accounted for may be confiscated.  For
those staying in Egypt less than one month, there are no currency exchange
requirements.  For each month thereafter, U.S. citizens must present proof,
in the form of bank receipts, that they have converted $180 per month per
person into Egyptian pounds.  A maximum of 100 Egyptian pounds may be
carried into or out of Egypt.

Photography Requirements:  There are strict duties on the importation of
expensive photographic and video equipment.  This includes most types of
equipment typically carried by tourists to Egypt, including all video
cameras, all autofocus cameras, etc.  Travelers who wish to take such
equipment with them on a temporary visit have three options with Customs
authorities. (A) They may have the Customs inspector inventory the equipment
and list it by model and serial number in their passports, so that the
equipment can be crosschecked when they leave Egypt, in which case no duty
will be collected.  (B) They may have the equipment placed in storage for
the duration of their stay, in which case a storage fee may be collected.
(C) They may pay the standard duty for importing these items.  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 obtain 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.

Tips for Travelers:  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.  Egypt is a desert country.  Dehydration or other heat-
related injuries can occur in any season.  In desert areas, emergency
services are limited or non-existent.  Horseback riding in the desert and
near archeological sites can be dangerous even for experienced riders.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo can
obtain updated information on travel and security within Egypt.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy in Cairo is located on Lazoghli 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 (24-hour
switchboard).  The fax number is (20-2) 357-3200.

The Consular Section of the American Embassy is located at the Embassy, but
has a separate entrance on Lazoghli Street.  The consular mailing address
from the United States is American Embassy Cairo, Consular Section, Unit
64900 - Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900.  The telephone number is (20-2) 355-7371.
 The consular fax is (20-2) 357-2472.

The workweek in Egypt is Sunday through Thursday.

No. 94-022

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated February 14, 1994, to
update information on areas of instability.

#ENDCARD