Travel & Tourism Committee
The role of the US consular office
Amcham's Travel & Tourism Committee hosted a special breakfast
briefing and discussion on November 28 with Peter Kaestner, consul
general at the US embassy in Cairo, on the US consular office's
role in addressing rebounding US tourism to Egypt.
Kaestner noted that AmCham and the consulate have a mutual interest
in promoting US tourism to Egypt. Tourism, he said, benefits the
Egyptian economy by creating jobs, generating hard currency and
promoting development. It also promotes mutual understanding between
Americans and Egyptians.
Kaestner directed visitors to www.travel.state.gov for information
directed at foreign citizens traveling to the United States and
US citizens traveling abroad. US citizens abroad can keep track
of travel advisories, public announcements, and consular information
sheets featuring country descriptions, entry and exit requirements,
notes on security, and basic information on the location of the
local embassy.
Kaestner encouraged US citizens abroad to make use of new services
allowing them to receive travel warnings by e-mail or by telephone
by registering with the consulate's American Citizens Services Department.
Asked about visas to visit the US, Kaestner said restrictions had
been eased to take into account special circumstances such as visits
for medical treatment, honeymoons and urgent business meetings.
Kaestner added that there has been a huge improvement in the system
as a whole. For example, visa procedures that took several weeks
can now be completed in a few days.
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