Diplomatic Breakthrough: Mutual Tourism Ties Rekindled Between Iran and Egypt

To buttress tourism, direct flights between Iran and Egypt will be resumed in the coming weeks if a detailed agreement is reached, as per a joint announcement by the two nations. The move comes as Iran and Egypt are on track to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies.

Tehran and Cairo are set to draw a roadmap for their tourism collaborations later this month, aiming to normalize relations between the two nations, as reported by The National.

Egyptian sources state that a delegation from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is scheduled to travel to Tehran to finalize details with their Iranian counterparts. According to the report, a new Egyptian tour operator will be established, solely responsible for handling Iranian tourists.

As part of the initial arrangements, Iranians will be permitted to visit Egypt on organized tours of the Red Sea resorts located in the southern region of the Sinai Peninsula. Additionally, further agreements may be reached to allow Iranian travelers to extend their visits to religious temples in Egypt.

The resumption of direct flights between Iran and Egypt, planned for the coming weeks pending a detailed agreement, aims to strengthen tourism ties. Discussions also include the possibility of offering Iranian tourists entry visas upon arrival in Egypt.

Apart from aiding in the normalization of relations, attracting Iranian tourists will provide financial benefits to Egypt, which is grappling with an economic crisis partially caused by the Russian-Ukraine war, according to the report.

Officials from Cairo and Tehran have recently held several rounds of talks in Baghdad to discuss the normalization of relations, which soured following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran has high expectations for its numerous tourist spots, including bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, 26 of which are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, the Islamic Republic aims to increase its foreign arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.