1- Khufu's First Boat Successully Moved to the GEM... and Russian Flights Resume to Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada
This August, two major events in the tourism and antiquities sector in Egypt took place; on 7 August, Khufu’s First Boat was successfully transferred from the Giza Plateau to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where it will be displayed (p.15 -12), and Russian flights resumed to the Egyptian resorts of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada on 9 August (p. 17-16).
2- The PM Follows Up Development Work in Sharm El-Sheikh and the "Great Transfiguration" in St. Catherine, and Discusses A Plan to Implement A Strategy to Maximize Yacht Tourism
During the month of August, the Prime Minister (PM) held a number of meetings, attended by the Minister, to follow up on the development projects taking place in various tourist destinations. This included: a meeting to follow up on the development work underway in Sharm El-Sheikh; the progress in Fustat Gardens project; and the development project in the site of “The Great Transfiguration” in St. Catherine, which is one of the most important national projects to promote this city internationally. In this context, the Minister and the Minister of Environment met on 11 August to discuss promoting sustainable tourism and measures to preserve natural resources in St. Catherine. On August 1, the Prime Minister held a meeting to review the implementation of a strategic plan to revive luxury yacht tourism in Egypt; in this context, the Minister, and the Minister of Transport, introduced this strategy, during the Cabinet meeting on August 5.
3- The Opening of Wekalet Al-Geddawy in Esna
On August 29, the Minister opened Wekalet Al-Geddawy in Esna, after a restoration project that lasted for two years. This project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development “USAID”. The Governor of Luxor, the American Ambassador in Cairo, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Assistant Minister for Projects and General Supervisor of the Historic Cairo, Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities and members of the Parliament and Senate in Luxor attended the event. To encourage people to visit it, the minister announced that Wakalat El Gedawy will receive the visitors of Esna Temple for fre
4- New Species of 43 Million Year Old Ancient Semi-Aquatic Whale Discovered in Egypt
For the first time in the history of Egyptian vertebrate paleontology, an Egyptian team of scientists lead a documentation of a new genus and species of a semi-aquatic four-legged whale. The fossil was first found by a team of Egyptian environmentalists and Paleontologists from Mansoura University in 2008 in an area that was covered by seas in prehistoric times, The species has been named after the ancient Egyptian god Anubis as its skull resembles the jackal-headed god of the dead and Fayoum oasis, the place from which its fossils were extracted.
5- Discovering the Remains of a Residential and Commercial Suburb in Alexandria
The Egyptian archeological mission from Alexandria archeological area succeeded in discovering the remains of a residential and commercial suburb dating back to the Greco-Roman era. This discovery sheds light on the various activities that took place at the outer walls of the Egyptian capital in the Roman era. Work is currently underway to complete the documentation of the site using three-dimensional imaging and modern topographical lifting techniques. It is scheduled to transfer the archeological finds to the restoration laboratories of the Ministry to carry out the necessary restoration work.
6- Issuing A Silver Coin to Commemorate A Parade of Royal Mummies
To commemorate the Pharoah’s Golden Parade, where 22 Royal mummies were transferred from the Egyptian museum in Tahrir to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, on 3 April 2021, the Ministry of Finance issued a commemorative silver coin of LE100 bearing the ceremonial logo in both Arabic and English to document this extraordinary event. It also issued circulating coins of one pound and fifty piasters, bearing the same design.
'Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs' Exhibition Set to Open in the US
On 13 August, The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities accompanied by the Consul General of the Egyptian Consulate in Houston, and Minister Plenipotentiary there, visited the hall that will hold “Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs” antiquities exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences in Texas, USA to follow up on the ongoing preparations for its opening in November. The Egyptian cabinet had previously agreed on holding this exhibition in four cities, including two in the USA then Paris in France and Sydney in Australia. The exhibition includes 181 artifacts, showcasing distinctive characteristics of ancient Egyptian civilization, especially from the middle to late Kingdom.
7- Enhancing Domestic Airtravel to Combine Beach with Culture Tourism
The Minister met with the Minister of Civil Aviation, on August 3rd, to discuss enhancing domestic airtravel between coastal cities like Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada, and Nile Valley cities, like Luxor and Aswan as a first stage. This developes a new tourism offering combining beach and leisure tourism with cultural tourism.
8- The Progress in Upgrading Tourism Facilitiess in Archeological Sites
On August 24, the Minister met with the Supervising Committee for the Development of Services in Archaeological Sites and Museums headed by the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The meeting reviewed the progress of work done to upgrade tourism facilities in some archaeological sites, to improve the visitors experience. It also reviewed activating the services contracts signed by the Supreme Council of Antiquities; namely in the Citadel of Salah El-Din in Cairo, the Giza Plateau, and the archeological site in Beni Hassan, Minya.
9- 6 Statues of King Senusret to be Transferred to the Museum Soon
6 statues of King Senusret I and an offering table belonging to King Mentuhotep II will be transferred to the Museum from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir soon. Logistics and preparations of the transfer were discussed in a meeting held on August 31.
10- The Most Popular Egyptian Dishes in an Educational Symposium in Montreal, Canada
Under the title “Live Cooking for Egyptian Cuisine: From the Heart of Hotels in Egypt”, the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Office in Montreal, Canada, organized, via video conference, a symposium on Egyptian cuisine, which is considered one of the most ancient kitchens. This is part of the activities of the Egyptian Heritage Month in Ontario.