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In the broad (and increasingly disputed) international tourism map a few points are more iconic than the Guiza necropolisin Egypt. And it’s normal. After all, his great pyramid Seven wonders of the ancient world and an archaeological jewel that attracts every year to millions of tourists. The problem is that, as they know Other great destinations distributed By AsiaAmerica or Europe (including Spain), in tourism there is nothing easier than dying successful.
And that is what Egypt wants to avoid.
A huge business. A few months ago, when taking stock of 2024, the government of Egypt I took chest for its ability to attract tourists from other countries. According to its data last year the country achieved a “record” of 17.5 million of visitors, almost one million more than in 2023 despite the fact that, as Remember your minister From the bouquet, Sherif Fathy, the area is affected by “the geopolitical situation of the region.” His goal is to shoot that short -term figure until reaching 30 million visitors before the decade ends.
Egypt’s data may be far from other destinations, such as Spain either Japanbut it is enough for tourism to be one of the great economic pillars of the country of pyramids and pharaohs. Only during the first semester of 2024 the industry generated income from 6,600 million of dollars (some sources speak of a global impact much greater) and the government itself recognizes that its contribution to the national GDP Approaches 10%although there were years in which this percentage reached either exceeded 20%. The sector It is key also as a source of foreign exchange.
THE GREAT CLATING: Giza. Throughout its Egypt geography it has important claims, such as Karnakhe Valle de los Reyes, Abu Simbel or the temple of Luxor. However, if there is an iconic (and photographed) point it is The necropolis of the Guiza Plateau, with its Famous Celebrrimas pyramids, just a few kilometers from Cairo. Every year they visit them millions of touristswhich in turn generates an important transfer of buses chartered by tour operators, cars, tourists and professional guides. The result: collapse, long lines and the movement of street vendors.
To avoid it, the government has drawn a plan with which it wants to improve the organization on the plateau and end the chaos, as reported A few days ago News Week. Among other measures he has decided to set a new access on the Cairo-Fayum road, reorder the environment and The presence of animals Shot, open a visiting center, restore several graves, boost online ticket sales and also bet on ecological transport in the deposit.
“Rooted problems”. One of the key figures behind the changes is the Orascom Pyramids firm, which is investing millions of dollars in the transformation of the area to make it a tourist reference. “This is the world’s largest monument, the last of the seven wonders of the ancient world,” Amin Gazzarin claimspresident of Orascom Pyramis Enerinment (OPE). “The process is complex and challenging due to the need to address deeply rooted problems in the area.”
The authorities have already launched A first phase Pilot, as a test, so that the renewed area in the surroundings of the pyramids opens at the beginning of July, coinciding with the implementation of the Great Egyptian museum. The country want to end In addition, end the image of horses and camels in bad conditions in the necropolis. The goal: better manage the flow of visitors, reduce congestion and influence your sustainable destination message.
New times, new approach. That Egypt has decided to modernize the script plateau to Improve experience Of its millions of visitors, planting face to chaos, the unusual street sale, congestion in access and betting on ecological transport, with electric buses instead of the traditional Horses and camelsIt is no accident.
Egypt is no stranger to something that Spain has proven Already in its own meats: to be an attractive tourist destination it does not arrive with having a great heritage and paradisiacal landscapes. Massification and poor management may make a destination simply end up dying of success. And in recent years, Egypt has found criticism of certain aspects that tarnish the experience of tourists and excursions to places like Guiza or Luxor.
“They ruin the experience”. In networks They can be found Tourist complaints about the resale, attitude and harassment of certain vendors, pressures to accept services or poor infrastructure. Not long ago, in A Reddit thread On places that travelers would not return, a user cited Cairo.
The reason? “Of course the pyramids are beautiful, but scammers and resellers ruin the experience.” In February Egyptian Streets warned that these problems have become more pressing for Egyptian tourism now than networks such as Tiktok amplify the bad experiences of visitors.
Beyond the pyramids. Moreover, in his article Mohamed Khairat warns of negative comments on aggressive sellers, poorly illuminated deposits, women who claim to have felt harassed or even problems at Cairo’s own airport. “Terminal 1, used by airlines Low Costis outdated and chaotic “, Khairat warns. “There is no clear guide on where to go, which leaves disoriented tourists.” The problem is aggravated because at certain points only cash payments are accepted in dollars or euros, which is an extra difficulty for foreigners.
The treatment of animals, in the focus. Another key issue is the treatment of animals. In the tourist areas of Egypt it is usual to meet merchants that offer rides in carriages thrown by horses, donkeys or camels. Your figure It has generated controversy In some cities in southern Spain. And of course he also does in Egypt, where Peta has already raised the voice To denounce the situation of at least part of these animals, “sick, injured or hungry” and that their owners deal with “if they were tools.”
His criticisms have had an effect. Both institutional and in the sector itself. In autumn the Egyptian government He presented a program Focused precisely on “animal welfare” in its main tourist points, including the Guiza Plateau, and the authorities They have opted Also for a transport system with electric buses that facilitate transport within the necropolis, which prevents tourists from resorting to horseback riding or camel.
The sector moves file. It is not the only message to Peta’s spect, which in February celebrated that Airbnb has decided to stop promoting “animal -exploiters” activities in the surroundings of the great pea pyramids. The truth is that social networks speaker has also served to deal with animals in the area.
A few days ago a video was viralized in which you can see how a Dutch woman recriminates a man who was allegedly hitting a donkey near the necropolis, in the surrounding environment. As the recording circulated through networks, users They demanded to the authorities that intervene and take measures against animal abuse.
Images | Kian Chow (UNSPLASH) and Mustang Joe (Flickr)
Via | Straight to the palate
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