Grand Egyptian Museum will display countless Pharaonic artifacts
The expected November official opening of a dramatic attraction showcasing Egypt’s ancient side is expected to provide a significant boost for the country’s tourist trade.
The Cairo-area Grand Egyptian Museum – which will display a huge number of Pharaonic artifacts – has been in the works for years and is now expected to be fully open within a matter of weeks, something tour operators that send people to Egypt are excited about.
“The (Egyptian) government anticipates a 30% to 40% increase in tourism activity following GEM’s opening,” says Sally Mikhail of GMTours, who refers to the museum by its acronym, a common practice among those involved in Egyptian tourism.
GEM brings together huge numbers of artifacts, including the complete Tutankhamun collection.
“For many visitors to Egypt, the antiquities are the core attraction. Tourists might stay longer if there’s more to see – not just the Pyramids and Luxor, but a major museum in Cairo. That means more hotel nights, more spending on food, transportation, and local guides,” Mikhail explained. “More visitors, especially international ones, translates into more foreign currency earnings. GEM is being promoted not just as a museum but as a global cultural landmark, a hub for Egyptology studies, and part of the master plan to develop the Giza plateau area and surroundings. GEM’s opening will be a game-changer for the country, especially tied so closely to Egypt’s most iconic heritage – the Pyramids, Tutankhamun, etc.. It’s a landmark. GEM is the largest museum in the Middle East.”
Recent years have seen Egyptian tourism having to contend with COVID and the fallout from the war in Gaza, but Mikhail reports that the Egyptian government is expecting the number of tourists the country will host will rise to 30 million a year by 2030.
Renata Snidr of NARAT is also applauding the upcoming museum opening. “The opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum is a momentous event for Egyptian tourism,” she states. “GEM, taking over a decade in development and construction, is heralded as the most anticipated museum opening in the world… GEM provides a modern counterpart to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo opened in 1902; an architectural landmark in-and-of-itself representing the golden era of Egyptian exploration.”
The Grand Egyptian Museum officially opens Nov. 1
For NARAT, an important product element is the GEM’s close proximity to the Pyramids of Giza, making it efficient to tour both popular travel sites.
Angela Donelly, commercial officer for Africa and the Middle East at Goway Travel, is also upbeat about the museum and its ability to heighten interest in Egypt.
“With the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza set to open its doors fully in early November, excitement is building in the travel world,” she says. “This state-of-the-art museum will house an unparalleled collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the full treasure of King Tutankhamun, making it a landmark cultural attraction for visitors from around the world.”
Goway Travel guests have already enjoyed visits to the museum over the past few months.
“It is now closed to the public for preparations ahead of the grand opening scheduled for Nov. 1, 2 and 3. The museum is scheduled to open to the public once more starting Nov. 4,” she noted.
The ongoing fighting in Gaza has cut into travel into parts of the Middle East but Donnelly says Goway is seeing an increase in interest in Egypt.
“We’re seeing a real surge in interest and bookings to Egypt, which has climbed into our top four destinations in the Africa and Middle East region,” she reports. “One of the key reasons is the easing of travel procedures for Canadians. Since January, the previously cumbersome visa application process has been streamlined. Canadians no longer need to jump through as many hoops at consulates, making it far simpler to plan that dream trip to Egypt. With the GEM opening and the improved visa situation, there’s never been a better time for North American travellers to explore Egypt’s wonders, from the Pyramids of Giza to the bustling bazaars of Cairo. We’re thrilled to help our clients discover all of it with more ease than ever.”
Meanwhile, Mikhail says the Gaza war hurt Egypt bookings but they never stopped, adding GMTours itineraries steer clear of combat zones.
“Overall, the conflict is impacting Egyptian tourism to a meaningful extent but not uniformly across the country,” she continues. “Heritage tourism and major new draws – like the GEM – are likely more insulated and will keep attracting more tourists to Egypt.”
