Government officials said last month that starting from May 15 on-arrival visas would be granted only to groups traveling with tour operators.

Lone travelers would be required to apply for visas at Egyptian consulates, in a move aimed at bolstering border security.

But the deadline has been “postponed” until an electronic visa system is in place, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The purpose of this measure is to organize 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 ministry said.

It gave no timeline for when the electronic visa system might be in place.

Egypt is trying to woo back tourists after almost four years of unrest hit the once-thriving industry and as it battles militants who have killed scores of security personnel.

About 10 million tourists visited in 2014, down sharply from a 2010 figure of almost 15 million people drawn to the country’s archaeological sites and Red Sea resorts.

More from Egypt soon