EGYPT: Egypt Struggles To Preserve Heritage And Tourism

With a shaky economy following years of unrest and a huge drop in tourists, Egypt is struggling to preserve its fabled archaeological heritage.

From Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast to the Great Pyramid of Giza and Aswan to the south, the North African country is home to impressive ancient monuments.

For years, the sites were able to rely on a steady stream of ticket sales to finance their upkeep.

But since Egypt's 2011 revolution, the number of tourists visiting the country has dwindled, leaving authorities scrambling to make up for lost revenues.

"Since January 2011, our revenues have fallen sharply, which had a strong effect on the state of Egyptian monuments," Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Enany said.

From more than 15 million in 2010, the number of tourists visiting Egypt dropped to 6.3 million in 2015.

Jan 10, 2017

Years of political tumult after the 2011 uprising that unseated strongman Hosni Mubarak and a jihadist insurgency following the army's 2013 overthrow of his Islamist successor Mohamed Morsi have discouraged many from visiting.

Revenue from entrance tickets to historical sites dropped to about US$38 million (S$55 million) in 2015, from about $220 million in 2010.

"It's catastrophic," said Ms Fayza Haikal, an Egyptologist and professor at the American University of Cairo.

Mr Zahi Hawass an archeologist and former Antiquities minister, said the country's heritage has suffered as a result.

"With the lack of funding, you cannot restore anything. Look at the Cairo museum. It's dark," he said, referring to the famed Egyptian Museum in the capital's Tahrir Square.

"And you cannot ask the government to support you because the economy is not that good. And antiquities are deteriorating everywhere," he said.

Administering the country's antiquities takes about 38,000 employees, including on-site workers, technicians, Egyptologists and inspectors, the ministry says.

The government has relied on foreign handouts since Morsi's overthrow, and finally decided to float the pound last year as part of an economic reform programme connected to a loan from the International Monetary Fund.

An important part of an economic revival would include the return of tourism, a main hard currency earner for Egypt.

Until then, Mr Enany is trying to limit the damage. "I try to do extra activities to increase revenue," he said.

For example, the Egyptian Museum, home to the golden mask of Tutankhamun and mummies of pharaohs, now stays open into the night, he said.

Annual passes are also available to encourage Egyptians to visit the sites. Patrons and archaeological missions still contribute to the preservation of Egypt's ancient heritage, but the funds cannot cover everything. "Priority is given to restoration," said Ms Haikal.

"But there are excavations that have been stopped due to lack of funding."

The excavations "have waited for 5,000 years and can wait," she said, but important restoration work has also been delayed.

"At the very least we identify what needs restoration, and we do the minimum to keep them in a proper state."

Mr Enany is also pushing for granting public access to more sites, as was done with the recently opened tombs of Nefertari and Seti I in Luxor.

The Malawi museum in the southern province of Minya has also been reopened, after a mob looted it during the unrest following Morsi's overthrow.

The Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids should also be opened, at least partially, in 2018.

Mr Hawass, who advises Mr Enany, says the minister needs more support and also for authorities to think beyond Egypt by undertaking exhibitions abroad.

"Why leave Tutankhamun in the Cairo museum, in a dark area. No one sees it," he said. "Tutankhamun can bring money!"

EGYPT: Giza Pyramids Getting Sold

Camels resting between rides with their owners against the backdrop of the pyramids in Giza

Three men were arrested on Saturday for breaking off and selling pieces of one of the Giza pyramids, after a video showing bidding on the artefacts went viral online.

The men were detained for four days by Haram Prosecution on charges of vandalising antiquities, trading in antiquities and committing fraud.

According to an interior ministry statement, the arrests were made following a complaint by the general director of the Giza Pyramids archaeological area.

The police added that the three men confessed to breaking off and selling pieces of the pyramids and gave details about the sale process. The handsize chunks of rock sold for around EGP 250 (about $32), the police said.

Privately owned Egyptian news site Dot Masr decided to investigate media reports that “pieces of the pyramid were being sold”, resulting in the video of the sale, the website said.

The editors of the website were able to “buy a piece of the pyramids for EGP 300” following an agreement with one of the men, who is now in police custody, to buy chunks of the pyramid in order to send to a friend abroad.

The video sparked outrage on social media, with many users calling on the antiquities and tourism ministries to “save the pyramids.”

Pictures and videos taken by a German tourist who climbed to the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza also went viral online earlier this month; Andrej Ciesielski was caught by police on his descent but released. Egyptian authorities have said he will face a lifetime ban from entering Egypt.

EGYPT: Destination Cairo

Cairo is a vibrant, exhilarating, exotic, fascinating and welcoming city. Home to the best Pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic sights in Egypt, this city is where you never know what incredible, half-forgotten monument you might stumble across while wandering around. Enjoy the Nile view from your hotel room balcony, visit the capital's medieval markets by Khan El-Khalili, or walk down the Nile promenade. There are also plenty of cinemas, theatres and modern malls. Go for an opera or enjoy oriental music dance shows. Good for short breaks and long stays; you’ll get to see the Giza Pyramids, thousands of ancient artifacts in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and much more.

Moreover, Cairo is for everyone, there are plenty of mid range and budget accommodations to choose from. Pick a charming boutique hotel in the heart of downtown or indulge in utter luxury in one of the city’s most luxurious establishments. These usually house professional Spas and wellness centres where you’ll be treated like royalty. There are more than 75 four and five-star hotels in Cairo, which all offer stunning views over amazing landmarks such as the majestic Nile, the Pyramids, beautiful parks and gardens, and upscale clubs and compounds.

The weather in Cairo is moderate and low in humidity at almost any time of the year, except for some specific times in summer. Highs of 36°C are common in July and lows of 21°C have been witnessed; the winter months in Cairo, especially January, are much more pleasant with temperatures ranging between 21°C and 15°C. Accommodation by the Nile offers some relief from the summer heat due to the lovely breeze that comes from the river. In March, April, and June the Khamaseen winds blow from the desert bringing with them higher temperatures and sand.