For first time, dining and electric cars for tourists at Egypt's pyramids

Record ID: 1582623

  • Title: For first time, dining and electric cars for tourists at Egypt's pyramids
  • Date: 21st October 2020
  • Summary: GUESTS TAKING PHOTOS IN FRONT OF PYRAMIDS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MINISTER OF TOURISM AND ANTIQUITIES, KHALED AL ANANY, SAYING: "We will construct a new entrance, it is already done, by the Fayoum road. Guests will leave their cars outside, and tourist buses will leave their vehicles outside, a large parking space. Guests will come and find a large set of ticket windows, wher
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2020 13:10
  • Keywords: Egypt Electric Bus Giza Pyramids Tourism
  • Location: GIZA, EGYPT
  • City: GIZA, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Middle East
  • Reuters ID: LVA004D12NSYD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Egypt showcased on Tuesday (October 20) its latest developments of the Giza pyramids plateau, which included the site's first-ever restaurant and a set of eco-friendly electric buses.
    Naguib Sawiris, the business tycoon whose company is the main developer, said the 301 million EGP ($ 19 million) project is part of a greater plan to develop tourist-friendly amenities and services at the ancient site.
    "One of the problems always faced is that people say there are no special services for tourists," said the secretary-general of the supreme council of antiquities, Mostafa Waziri.
    Dubbed the '9 Pyramids Lounge', the new restaurant is 1,341 square meters large and overlooks the pyramids complex.
    The new project also includes the deployment of 30 environment-friendly electronic buses, equipped with screens that act as tour guides, the minister of tourism and antiquities, Khaled El Anany said.
    New regulations will also be imposed on vendors and workers offering camel and horse rides.
    Vendors will not be allowed to directly deal with tourists regarding payments, developers said, instead tourists will present electronic tickets to licensed workers.
    "We will organize the salespeople," said Sawiris. "We will not deprive them of their income but we will put them into suitable, nice places."
    The changes are part of a larger project to develop the tourist destination which were in the works before the industry took a hit with the coronavirus pandemic.
    Tourism accounts for up to 15% of Egypt's national output, and officials have said previously it was losing around $1 billion each month after the sector shut down most of its activities in March.
    (Production: Ahmed Fahmy, Nadeen Ebrahim)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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