Developing services at 8 Egyptian archaeological sites in Alexandria, Fayoum, Ismailia, and Beni Suef

 Dr. Mustafa Waziri, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to enhance the services provided to both Egyptian and foreign visitors during their Egypt travel packages. These efforts are focused on improving Egypt's tours to various Egyptian tourist destinations, particularly archaeological sites and museums.

As part of this development work, eight archaeological sites have been targeted, including the Monastery of Mary Mina archaeological site in Alexandria, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Danger. This project is a collaborative effort between the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Monastery of Mary Mina, the Alexandria Antiquities District, the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Sector, and the Projects Sector of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, with the approval of the Permanent Committee for Islamic and Coptic Antiquities.

Under the direction of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Minister emphasized the Ministry's unwavering dedication to the project. He highlighted the project's profound influence on enhancing Egypt's day tours to the Monastery of Mary Mina. This endeavor is in line with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' overarching national strategy, demonstrating their commitment to promoting and enhancing Egypt's luxury tour experiences.

For his part, Mohamed Metwally, the Director General of Alexandria Antiquities, explained that the project involved the installation of wooden awnings with seating arrangements to ensure visitor comfort during Alexandria day tours. The site was also equipped with informative panels providing historical and contextual information about the site, Egypt tour itineraries, and the availability of portable toilets, including those designed for visitors with special needs requiring Egypt wheelchair-accessibletours. Furthermore, the visit route within the archaeological site was carefully planned to facilitate visitors' movement, and the extent of the site's area, encompassing significant archaeological buildings, was clearly marked.

Dr. Bassem Ibrahim, the Director of the General Administration of Services for Tourist and Archaeological Sites and Museums at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, provided details on a recent project involving the installation of information boards at various archaeological sites and a museum across different Egyptian governorates. A total of 76 boards were designed, implemented, and installed, each equipped with a QR code to provide information in both Arabic and English.

The sites where these information boards were installed include the Ismailia Museum and the areas of the Hawara Pyramid and Qasr Qarun in Al Fayoum Governorate. Additionally, the boards were placed in the areas of the ruins of Tuna al-Jabal and Tell Al-Amarna, as well as the shrines of the Companions and Followers in Bahnasa in the Minya Governorate. Furthermore, the Dashasha ruins in the Beni Suef Governorate were also among the locations where this project was implemented.

The installation of these information boards aims to enhance the Egyptian classic tour experience by providing detailed and easily accessible information about the historical and archaeological significance of these sites. The inclusion of QR codes allows tourists to access the information conveniently using their smartphones, enabling them to delve deeper into the rich heritage and cultural background of each location.

He added that the information boards at each archaeological site include information about the history and architecture of the site, the most important inscriptions on it, the restoration work that was completed, and the itinerary of the visit, in addition to a number of instructions that must be taken into account in order to preserve the archaeological site, which would provide all information about the site to Egyptian and foreign visitors. In order to facilitate their Egypt group tours and improve their tourism experience.

These initiatives, along with specialized tours such as Egypt Christmas tours and Egypt Easter tours, aim to promote Egypt's cultural heritage and provide unique and immersive experiences for tourists. In addition to Egypt Nile cruise tours, these cruises typically travel between Luxor and Aswan, allowing visitors to explore ancient temples, tombs, and villages along the Nile River. There are Egypt shore excursions, which allow visitors to make the most of their time by offering guided trips to nearby attractions.