EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF VISA REGIME POLICIES ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DECISIONS OF EGYPTIAN OUTBOUND TOURISTS

Visa regime policies are continuously changing worldwide to mirror the fluctuating political and commercial relations between different countries. Some countries impose substantial visa restrictions on developing countries. Other countries enhance visa facilitation to increase tourist flows from certain countries. These varying visa regimes can have important consequences in policy terms for tourism management. Some scholars in fact consider visas as a competitive advantage or disadvantage a destination can have in comparison with its competitors. While general opinion agrees that visa restrictions reduce the flow of tourists, it remains an empirical question to evaluate the actual impact. This paper examines the impact of the current visa regime policies of certain countries on the travel decisions of Egyptian outbound tourists. The research attempts to understand how visa restrictions or facilitation can impact the travel decision of international Egyptian tourists. Data was collected through a field survey conducted among Egyptian outbound tourists to realize the aim of the research. The data from the survey was analyzed statistically using multiple regression analysis, analysis of variances tests and other statistical tests. Results revealed the direct impact of visa policies on travel decisions and future travel intentions of Egyptian outbound tourists.