Largest #tourism #project launched in #Giza – #Egypt

 

 

CAIRO, Egypt – In an effort to revitalise the tourism sector, Giza Governor Ali Abdel Rahman announced on Sunday the details of the “largest” tourism service project in the governorate at a cost of EGP 7.5m, according to a statement from the governorate.

Ministry of Tourism will fund the project which will be implemented by Ministry of Antiquities, Abdel Rahman said. Situated near Haram Street, the project will include 280 bazaars, commercial shops, touristic restaurants and cafes with the aim of serving tourists.

According to Abdel Rahman, the tender to implement the project will be issued on a usufruct basis for the developers within a month. The announcement followed a Sunday visit by the governor to the project site, which he said would attract tourists due to proximity to the Giza Pyramids.

A total of EGP 21m has been allocated by the governorate to develop roads in the area of Haram Street, with Abdel Rahman pointed out that the governorate has spent EGP 25m on this over the past two years.

The tourism sector struggled in 2013 after many European and foreign governments warned travel agencies in August to stop selling holiday packages to Egypt amid rising fears of violence after the dispersal of a sit-in held by supporters of former president Mohamed Morsi.

The Ministry of Finance recently announced that tourism revenues in the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2013/2014 are down 66% year on year, registering $1.9bn. Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou announced last week an increase in visa fees for tourists visiting the country from $15 to $25. In a positive outlook, however, Zaazou said he expected the number of tourists to increase by 3 million in 2014 to 12.5 million, up from 9.5 million in 2013, generating $11bn in revenues.

Source: dailynewsegypt.com

facsimile of the tomb of Tutankhamen installed in Luxor – official opening on 30th April 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exact facsimile of the tomb of Tutankhamen installed in Luxor  – official  opening on 30th April 2014

The exact facsimile of the tomb of Tutankhamun has been installed underground in a building  next to Carters house, at the entrance to the valley of the kings and is due to be officially opened on 30th April 2014.

The facsimile , made by Factum Arte, Madrid is the most accurate large -scale  facsimile to be made to date .This is the culmination of many years work and is an important milestone in the approach to responsible heritage management and the use of advanced technology in the promotion of sustainable tourism . it has been made with the full support of Mr.Hisham Zaazou  the Egyptian  Minister of  tourism , the minister of state for Antiquities and with the backing of the European Union . The facsimile is a gift to the people of Egypt from Factum Foundation . Its housed in an underground building designed by the tarek waly center : Heritage and Architecture , Cairo .The Public opening will be 1st may 2014

The work has involved the development of advanced 3D technologies  for recording the tombs and perfecting the method to replicate them. Its the first stage of a larger project that involves the creation of Facsimiles of the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari – both currently closed to the general public .

The Need for a facsimile :

The Tomb of Tutankhamun was hidden for over 3000 years , but since its discovery in 1922 it has rapidly deteriorated – not due to neglect but rather because it was not built to accommodate the vast numbers of people who visit each day ; in 2011it was announced by the Supreme council of Antiquities that the original tomb must be closed for conservation reasons .The original tomb is currently open giving visitors a unique opportunity to visit both of it and the facsimile and compare the experience. the facsimile is part of an initiative to safeguard the tombs of the Theeban Necropolis that are either closed to the public for for conservation reasons or are in need of closure to preserve them for future generations.

The facsimile of the Tomb of Tutankhamun will give visitors an opportunity to understand history of the tomb since its discovery, encourage conservation of the original site and establish Egypts Ministry of Antiquities as a world leader supporting the use of high – resolution documentation to monitor the condition of the Tombs.

The Gift and Installation of the facsimile has very specific objects:

1. To promote a positive and Sustainable approach to tourism – and to encourage an awareness that sustainable tourism can be a positive force in the conservation of Egypt s cultural heritage.

2. To facilitate the transfer of technology and skills to set up workshops on Luxors west bank to carry out the recording and production of facsimiles of tombs of Seti I and Queen Nefertari to create long term skilled jobs in Luxor .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important news about Egypt entry visa

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAIRO, Egypt –

Egypt will increase tourist visa fees from $15 to $25 starting on May 1, 2014.

According to Hesham Zazou, tourism minister, the increase is slight and is not expected to affect the flow of tourists to the country.

The decision to increase the cost of a tourist visa to Egypt was previously postponed several times. The decision was initially meant to be implemented in November 2013. It was then postponed to February 2014, and finally to 1 May.

According to the tourism ministry, Egypt’s visa is still amongst the cheapest worldwide.

The number of tourists visiting Egypt in the first two months of 2014 dropped 28 percent to 1.3 million in comparison to January and February 2013.

As the security situation in South Sinai has deteriorated under a growing militant insurgency, Germany issued a warning against travel to the peninsula.

Egypt’s revenues from tourism, a key source of foreign currency, dropped drastically after the 2011 revolution amid subsequent political instability and violence.

Source: ahram.org.eg

Umm Kulthum Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The preparation for founding the Umm Kulthum Museum began in 1998, and the museum was open to the public in Dec.2001. Umm Kulthum’s role as a pop singer, cultural icon in both the Egyptian community and the Arabic world contributed enormously to the creative phase of Egyptian modern history.
Therefore, it is important to preserve this legendary tradition through collecting Umm Kuhlthum’s music, personal belongings, and related artifacts and to house them in a well established archive center.
In this process, CDF is proud to take the leadership role in supervising and funding the museum. Moreover, in order to enrich the museum collection, CDF is also responsible for collecting lesser -known personal traits and artifacts through countless direct contacts with Umm Kulthum’s family members, hoping to provide with the public a more comprehensive view of Egyptian music during the 20th century.
Located on the Roda island, the Museum, a destination to display and store Umm Kulthum’s items, shares the 250m2 building attached to the Minsterley Palace. Another reason for choosing this location is that it contains the Nile-meter, the second oldest Islamic monument in Cairo and that it is adjacent to the 161 year-old Minsterley Palace (1000m2). The significant importance of this historical area reinforces Umm Kulthum’s
cultural status in Egypt.

The Umm Kulthum Museum
consists of four halls:
The Main Hall:
It displays the collection of her dresses, awards and pendants, five collages of her photos, as well as correspondences and letters.

The Cinema Hall:
It displays a documentary movie commissioned for the opening of
the museum about Umm Kulthum, and the hall seats a maximum of 30 people

The Multimedia Hall:
It consists of a digital archival system with bilingual notes (Arabic and English?) about her life, a complete list of her songs in audio and video formats, as well as a collection of her photos. In addition, there is a collection of archive of newspaper clippings about her from 19242000- and the most important written biography about her.

The Panorama Hall:
It features a 10-minute documentary photos in an artistic way accompanied by well-known
Egyptian composer “Ragh Daood.” Since Sep. 2011, and there is a monthly Saloon held in the museum, beside a bunch of music outreach programs to reach various audience; especially students. In addition, the museum is adapting a new topic in reaching out to the
world by presenting Umm Kulthum Open Daily from 9 am – 4 pm (except for National Days)
Tickets: Ordinary LE 2
Students LE 1
Foreigners LE 6
1 El-Malek El-Saleh street, Manyal, Telfax: 23631467
http://www.facebook.com/museum.ummkulthum – cdf@cdf-eg.org

The historical expedition of Prince Kamal El Din Hussein

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism This is a historic event taking place from the 14th to 26th of March 2014.

Who is the Prince?

The Prince  Kamal El Din Hussain (son of Sultan Hussain) who was heading out into the deep desert with Citroen Kegresse Autochinelles in the years 1923 – 1926.  Massive camel caravans of up to 500 animals were carrying his fuel supply as the logistical backbone of his ventures. He was the one who found and named the Gilf Kebir Plateau.A memorial plaque was laid down by Count Lazlo Almasy – better known as – The English Patient. This plaque was placed in honor of the Prince at the southern tip of the Gilf Kebir Plateau in 1933 after his death. The Hollywood film “The English Patient”, won nine Oscars in 1996. The Prince was the first to introduce the automobile into deep desert explorations.After 1 year of the construction of the memorial Almasy returned with tourists to revisit the site. That expedition was sponsored by the Royal Automobile Club of Egypt which was represented by Prince Muhammed Abdel Moneim and by the Ahram Newspaper represented by Hassan Sobhi.

The preliminary agenda for passengers

13 March 2014 – Arriving Cairo
Overseas participants arrive in Cairo. We will assist with hotel bookings and we will be delighted to assist and organize transfers to the hotels (only hotels listed as participating in Kamal Expedition).

14 March 2014 – Opening ceremony – Flight – Drive heading to Gilf Kebir
We will have a transfer organized from the hotels of our choice to the Kamal Expedition Opening Ceremony which will be held at the Automobile & Touring Club of Egypt in Cairo. You also have the choice of joining us independently at the Club if you wish. After a brunch and the ceremony we will be heading to the Cairo International Airport to catch a charter flight to Dakhla Oasis.
At the airport of Dakhla the packed 4×4 cars will be waiting for us and will bring us to have lunch. Meanwhile the last formalities will be finished with the government to have
a fast start to the desert after lunch. Divided into several groups, the participants will be leaving the Oasis heading south on the Asphalt Road. Leaving the road, our first visit will be the Balise of Saviem Trucks which traversed the entire Sahara from West to East in 1977 (from the Atlantic ocean to the Nile). In the area of G-Hills we will be looking for a camping place. In the evening we will have the chance to listen to an interesting lecture on a chosen topic related to the desert by one of our top speakers.

15 March 2014 – Wadi Eight Bells
After breakfast, we will be continuing in groups crossing different desert landscapes to approach the Gilf El Kebir plateau. We will find some relics from the Second World War: broken down Cars which were used by the British Special Forces, the Long Range Desert Group. We will also cross some dunes to reach the landing ground of 8 Bells where we will set up camps nearby. Like every night we will have the chance to listen to an interesting lecture on the desert by one of our top speakers.

16 March 2014 – Gilf Kebir – Wadi Wassa – Kamal El DIn Monument
We will be traveling through the Wadi Eight Bells to reach the Wadi Wassa and the Rock paintings of the Mararet el Qantara which was found in 1935 by a British explorer group under the leadership of Shaw. From here we will be heading south to the southern tip of the Gilf el Kebir Plateau where Almasy erected the Kamal El Din Monument 81 years ago. Nearby, we will find a set up prepared for the group. It will be on that occasion were all the groups will be gathered together and we would have a longer entertaining program for you that evening including the screening of a documentary film. If you do not feel like attending the screening, you could enjoy the calm evening weather some hundred metres away.

17 March 2014 – Camil Crater
After a late evening, the starting of the groups will be delayed. They will be heading to the south to reach the meteorite crater of Gebel Kamil, where they will be camping nearby. The evening will once again be filled with an interesting topic of one of the speakers.

18 March 2014 – Gebel Uweinat – Karkur Talh
The groups will be heading towards Gebel Uweinat to arrive there after a few kilometers looking for camping places in the Karkur Talh area and will be exploring the different sites of the Gebel Uweinat. In the evening there will be a chance of attending another interesting lecture.

19 March 2014 – Rock cave near Peter & Paul
There will be a chance to have a short hike in the mountain in the morning before heading back north to reach some interesting rock art caves near the mountain of Peter & Paul. In the evening another interesting lecture will be organized.

20 March 2014 – Gilf Kebir – Wadi Sura
We will be reaching the area of Wadi Sura (the Cave of Swimmers) which became famous through the 1997 film The English Patient. We will be visiting the Clayton Cave and the Chinati Camp site exploring some rock paintings nearby. Before that, we will have a second gathering in front of the Cave of the Beast. Here all the groups will unite for a second time to watch a short film about the life of the late Egyptian Father of Environment, Prof. Mohammed el Kassas, who died on that day (March 21st) one year ago in Cairo. Through different presentations and a film we will have a second longer night in that area.

21 March 2014 – Gilf Kebir Aqaba Pass
The groups will split up again to move over the Three Castles to the Aqaba Pass to drive on top of the Gilf Kebir Plateau and to cross some dunes which are on top of the plateau. Here we will be looking for different camping areas and have the chance to another interesting lecture.

22 March 2014 – Gilf Kebir – Wadi Hamra
We will reach the higher level of the Plateau and have a nice view at Belle Vue
onto the southern plane. Driving along the edge of the plateau we will reach a passage which will get us to the southern tip of Wadi Hamra. Here, we will be visiting different engraving sites and have a special look at the different Fauna of the Gilf el Kebir area. We will be camping at the northern exit of the Wadi Hamra where each group will get a chance to listen to an interesting lecture.

23 March and 24 March 2014 – Crossing Great Sand Sea
These 2 days we will be crossing the dunes of the Great Sand Sea having exciting passages crossing the dunes from west to east.

25 March 2014 – White Desert
We will be back near the Wadi Obaid and we will be entering the National Park of the White desert. Here a buffet will be waiting for all the participants. The groups will be spread in the National Park and a last evening with lectures will end our evenings in the desert.

26 March 2014 – Cairo – Closing Ceremony in Mena Hous
We will be leaving the White Desert National Park heading back to the road in a northerly direction reaching Baharya Oasis where a lunch will be prepared for everyone. After lunch, a 300 kilometre drive to Gizeh will bring us to the Mena House Hotel at the foot of the Pyramids. After a welcome coffee and cakes, the closing ceremony will be held in the hotel and will include a dinner. The anniversary of the Prince Kamal el Din monument will come to the end of its journey.

for more info visit : http://www.kamalexpedition.com

under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism This is a historic event taking place from the 14th to 26th of March 2014. – See more at: http://en.egypt.travel/events/id/371#sthash.aYWVe1KJ.dpuf

Egyptian Tourist Authority reassures travel industry at WTM 2013

During a press conference at World Travel Market (WTM) on Monday 4th November, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Mr. Hisham Zaazou, gave an update on the current situation in Egypt and the tourist authority’s plans for 2014. Mr. Zaazou stated, “More than 18 countries have lifted the travel advisory on Luxor and Aswan.” “Egypt ranks amongst the top destinations in the area; over a third of UK visitors have been to the country three times or more. Currently we are ranked as the top tourist destination across the Middle East and North Africa, accounting for up to 21.5% and 37.6% of tourism respectively. As soon as the FCO revises its travel advice for the UK, we will work tirelessly with our valued media, travel agent and tour operator partners to communicate that the whole of Egypt is open,” he continued. Looking ahead, Mr. Zaazou commented, “We’re embracing real-time online communications by utilising the latest visual technologies such as webcams and mobile apps to show exactly what is happening on the ground in Egypt now.

“2014 will bring a renewed and reinvigorated interest in Egypt as the ideal medium-haul historical, cultural and beach destination for British and Irish travellers. The destination’s abundance of world-class tourism attractions will again see travellers choosing Egypt for their holidays year-round,” he concluded.In 2014, the Egyptian Tourist Authority (ETA) will be undertaking a vigorous programme of education to ensure that the UK travel industry is kept up to date on all the latest tourism developments in Egypt. The UK team led by Omayma El Husseini, Director UK & Ireland, will develop and activate a strategic mix of tactical travel trade and consumer marketing campaigns to promote the destination’s abundance of world-class tourism attractions.

What’s new in 2014?
New developments in 2014 include:

• El Gouna Water sports Complex Set to be one of the world’s largest cable water parks, the new complex will combine world-class water sports facilities with a new leisure and entertainment venue.
• Ancient Sands Golf Resort, opening April 2014
• Orascom Development is opening a new five-star, luxury apartment hotel as part of the new Ancient Sands Golf Resort. The hotel complex will offer 261 apartments in total, with 114 apartments opening with the hotel in April 2014.
• Ritz-Carlton Hotel , Cairo will welcome a new Ritz Carlton Hotel in 2014.

A message From the Minister of tourism in Egypt

The official message of H.E. HISHAM ZAAZOU, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism. The Message is addressed to the tour operators (Egypt’s professional partners).

on the official YouTube Channel

Hisham Zaazuo the Minister of Tourism Resigned 1st July

Each of the Minister of Tourism, Environment,Communication and the Minister of State for Parliamentary and Legal Affairs resigned  formally to the Council of Ministers to submit it to the presidency.

In protest at the poor performance of the institution of the presidency and not dealing with the will of the people and not to pay attention to events that fill the areas of Egypt .

LES OASIS DU DÉSERT OCCIDENTAL

Des paysages majestueux aux contrastes extraordinaires Paradis isolés, poches de civilisation au milieu du désert,refuges luxuriants loin du monde moderne, les oasis sont undes rares endroits de la planète qui échappent au temps.Situées à l’ouest du Nil, elles parsèment le désert occidental(ou désert Libyque) et ses dunes aux courbes sensuelles.

De Siwa à Kharga, les oasis d’Egypte sont les plus variées aumonde, chacune possédant son caractère propre au milieu d’immenses étendues de sable noir, blanc ou doré et d’impressionnants paysages rocailleux.L’oasis de Siwase distingue culturellement du reste de l’Egypte.

A l’ombre des palmiers/dattiers et des oliviers verdoyants, les Siwisy  vivent pratiquement en autarcie. Siwa « l’authentique » s’attache à garder et perpétuer ses valeurs traditionnelles et ses coutumes ancestrales. L’eau y est miraculeusement très abondante et la multitude de puits, jardins, sources jaillissantes et fontaines d’eau chaude font oublier sa position dans l’un des déserts les plus arides du monde. Depuis plus de 2000 ans, le nom de cette oasis est associé à celui d’Alexandre le Grand.

C’est dans le temple dédié à Amon, au cœur de Siwa, qu’en 331 avant notre ère, les oracles ont confirmé la descendance divine d’Alexandre et sa conquête du monde. Ilot de verdure au milieu de l’océan saharien, les deux grands lagons qui l’entourent lui donnent une allure féerique Longtemps demeurées inconnues des égyptologues, les oasis du désert occidental livrent une multitude d’informations qui renouvellent considérablement l’histoire de l’Égypte

pharaonique. Ainsi, l’oasis de Fayoum, célèbre pour la douceur de son climat et sa beauté, est un site touristique exceptionnel. A proximité du Caire, ses nombreux sites archéologiques et monuments témoignent de l’héritage historique et culturel laissé par les pharaons mais aussi par les civilisations gréco-romaine, chrétienne et musulmane.

Un héritage géologique et culturel Plus au Sud,l’oasis de Bahariya recèle de sources chaudes et de spas naturels. Ses innombrables arbres fruitiers et savégétation dense contrastent avec les collines et les montagnesde sable partiellement couvertes de pierres noires qui l’entourent (le désert noir).C’est dans ce paysage majestueux et surprenant

que fut découverte la nécropole des fameuses « momies dorées » datant de l’époque gréco-romaine.Sur une bande de 60 km, coincé entre Bahariya et l’oasis de Farafra, s’élève alors un univers minéral magique,le désert blanc.

Véritable décor lunaire,hérissé de colosses de calcaire aux formes extraordinaires sculptées par la nature et le temps,cette banquise de sable et de pierres émerveille par sa géologie unique au monde.

Les oasis de Dakhla, Kharga et Farafra sont concentrées dans la région de la nouvelle vallée, un des plus importants pôle d’attraction touristique d’Egypte. Grâce à leurs

sources sulfureuses froides et chaudes (jusqu’à 50°C !) riches  d’éléments à valeur curative, ces oasis ont acquis une  réputation mondiale de centre hivernal thérapeutique.

Le soleil y rayonne toute l’année, le climat y est sec même enhiver et les plantes herbacées de la région sont utilisées dans le traitement du diabète ou des rhumatismes par exemple.

A Farafra, les habitants excellent dans l’artisanat, Kharga, où se trouve l’unique aéroport du désert égyptien, abrite de nombreux sites anciens, et Dakhla est sans nul doute la pluspittoresque des oasis avec ses villages traditionnels, véritables labyrinthes de ruelles couvertes, bordées de maisons en boue séchée. Ses lacs naturels entourés de palmiers et de dunes de sable, ses champs dont le vert gras éclate sur l’ocre pâle du désert en font un lieu envoûtant truffé de sites archéologiqueset de réserves naturelles.

Idéalement de septembre à mai, il y a mille et une manières d’explorer cette terre de contrastes qu’est le désert Libyque.

A pied, à dos de dromadaire ou en 4×4, la diversité des paysages comblera les amoureux d’aventure et émerveillera les voyageurs en quête de culture et d’histoire.

Do You Really Know Any Thing About The Nile River ?

The Nile River is considered as the longest river in the world measuring 4160 miles long. The so-called “Father of African rivers” rises south of flows northward from its principal source (Lake Victoria, East-Central Africa) through North-Eastern Africa to drain into the Mediterranean Sea. Its remotest source is in Burundi (River Luvironza). The Nile River drains an area estimated at 1,293,000 square miles (3,349,000 square kilometres).
Its basin includes parts of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda,Congo (Kinshasa), Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopa, most of the Sudan and the cultivated part of Egypt.
The Nile River is a home of about 300 million people and a source of food, fish, energy and transportation.

It nourishes livelihood, an array of ecosystems and a rich diversity of cultures spreading over an area of 3 million square kilometres The nilometer is a well set next to the Nile River. The device served as a way to measure water levels thanks to some
marked intervals, thus allowing the keeping of comparative historic records. These also helped to predict the beginning and the volume of the coming inundation (based on the beginning of the Egyptian year).

The quality of the year’s flood was used to determine the levels of tax to be paid, in kind, by the peasantry to their rulers. The better the year’s flood was, the higher the tax was to anticipate the coming crops. Today, the best example of nilo meters can be seen on the Philae and Elephantine islands.

Cairo, Nilometer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)