The Supreme Council of Antiquities ordered the postponement of the increase of the archeological sites and museums ticket fees for foreigners and Egyptians until November, instead of October.
According to the letter sent by the Supreme Council of Antiquities to the Egyptian Travel Agencies Association, the council has agreed that the visit to the Egyptian civilisation panorama at the headquarters of the National Authority for Civilization Coordination is a part of the visit to the Citadel area, according to a monthly programme on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays of each week and be separate tickets to be printed and collected by the Ministry of Antiquities. This will be applicable starting July.
The area of the pyramids is one of the most prominent areas, where ticket prices have been increased from EGP 80 to EGP 120 for foreigners and from EGP 30 to EGP 60 for foreign students.
Ticket for the Great Pyramid was increased from EGP 200 to EGP 300 for foreigners, from EGP 100 to EGP 150 for foreign students, second pyramid ticket increased from EGP 30 to EGP 60 for foreign students.
An official at the Ministry of Antiquities said there is a package ticket for the area of the pyramids and the Great Pyramid and Khufu ship for EGP 400 for foreigners and EGP 200 for foreign students.
According to the official, the postponement comes in light of the decrease in the tourist flow of the areas and archaeological sites during the current period and may continue until the end of this year, according to the current tourist conditions in Egypt.
The tourist traffic to Egypt declined during the past year to 5.3 million visitors, down from 9.3 million in 2015, a drop of 40%.
The statement, obtained by Daily News Egypt, stated that the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square and the Museum of Islamic Art will not be opened at night during Ramadan, while the Textile Museum will be open between 8 pm and 12 am at double the price.
The Supreme Council also agreed to increase the ticket for the taftaf bus at the citadel of Salahuddin Citadel in Cairo, starting from the beginning of July.
Former chairperson of the Egyptian Tourism Federation (ETF) Elhamy El-Zayat said that the Egyptian tourism sector is going through a difficult phase due to the decline of tourism inflow from Russia and Britain since the crash of a Russian airliner at the end of October 2015.
He expressed his happiness with the decision to postpone the increase, saying that it will contribute to increasing inflow to the archaeological areas in the coming period, noting that there is cooperation between the ETAA and the council.
Daily News Egypt revealed last week that the Ministry of Antiquities issued a programme called Cairo Pass at discounted prices to visit the archaeological areas for a period of five days, starting from November.
The ministry hopes to increase revenues this year to secure funding for the restoration of archaeological shrines, museums, and archeological sites in light of the sharp decline in revenues during the past six years.
The Ministry of Antiquities’ revenues peaked in 2010, a year during which 14.7 million tourists visited Egypt and revenues amounted to EGP 1.3bn.
Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities is now issuing visitor’s passes for foreigners to visit all archaeological sites and museums in Cairo and Giza governorates.
The “Cairo Pass” costs $80 for foreign tourists and $40 for foreign students, and provides access to Islamic, Ancient Egyptian and Coptic sites for unlimited visits over a five-day period, according member of the Technical Office of the Assistant Minister of Antiquities Mostafa Elsagheer.
Elsagheer says the move comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to promote archaeological sites and increase its financial resources.
The pass can be obtained at the Cultural Relations Department at the ministry headquarters in Zamalek, as well as at ticket outlets at the Giza Plateau, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the Citadel of Salah El-Din.
Assistant of the Minister of Antiquities for the Development of Financial Resources Eman Zeidan explains that foreigners can obtain the pass by showing their passport or a student card with picture ID.
Last year, the ministry issued the “Luxor Pass” under two categories.
The first – which costs $200 for tourists and $100 for students – includes all sites and museums in Luxor including the royal tombs of Queen Nefertari and King Seti I.
The second category is half the price and includes all sites excluding the aforementioned royal tombs.
The Annual Visitors Pass, meanwhile, includes all open archaeological sites and museums across Egypt, with several options available. The first is for foreign diplomats and foreigners who work in international and multinational companies in Egypt.
The annual pass costs $240 excluding the tombs of Queen Nefertari and King Seti I, and $340 including the two royal tombs.
The annual pass for Egyptians and Arab residents in Egypt to visit all the country’s sites and museums costs EGP 400, or EGP 100 for university students. School trips and Egyptians over 60 are allowed free entry.
石棺が並ぶ埋葬室。エジプト考古省は、2000年以上前のプトレマイオス朝時代以前に造られた3つの墓を発見したと発表した。(PHOTOGRAPH BY EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF ANTIQUITIES, AP)
3つの墓のうち2つは、垂直な竪穴のある埋葬室だった。さらに、2つの墓の内外に、より単純な埋葬用の穴も計15個見つかっている。中には、子ども用の小さな穴もあった。発掘責任者のアリ・エル=バクリー氏によると、エル=カミン・エル=サフラウィから子どもが埋葬されていた証拠が見つかるのは初めてのことだ。