Officials in Egypt have backtracked on plans to stop British tourists visiting the country from obtaining visas on arrival.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry had originally revealed plans requiring Britons travelling alone, that is outside of organised tours, to apply for a visa before travel from May 15th.

There had been fears in the UK tourism industry that this would see potential travellers put off by long waits and high costs applying for a visa at the Egyptian consulate in London. 

However, the government has now decided that the deadline will be delayed until the creation of an electronic visa system.

No date was given for the creation of such a system.

A statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said: “The purpose of this measure is to organise the process of foreigners entering the country within a framework that respects national sovereignty, considers national security, and at the same time does not affect tourism.”

The latest decision means that independent travellers will still be able to get a US$25 visa on arrival at Cairo and Luxor.

Brits can also obtain access for free if they arrive at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

About ten million tourists visited in 2014.

This figure is down from a total of almost 15 million people who visited in 2010.