Holy Family's route in Egypt declared part of Christian pilgrimage

CAIRO - 2 October 2017: Tourism Minister Yehia Rashed is due to leave Cairo Tuesday heading for Vatican City to meet with tourism officials there and promote for the route of the Holy Family in Egypt as a main pilgrimage destination.

In statements to MENA, Rashed said that visit is a part of his ministry's effort to re-enlist the route of the Holy Family in Egypt on the map of religious tourism.

The visit falls within the framework of Pope Francis's fruitful visit to Egypt last May, minister Rashed said.

It also comes within the framework of the importance attached by the Tourism Ministry to religious tourism, the minister noted.

During his visit, Rashed is set to attend a mass led by the pontiff to bless the route of the Holy Family in Egypt to bless the icon of the holy family's flight into Egypt and declare it as one of the Christian pilgrimage journeys.

Reviving the Holy Family's route in Egypt involves eight spots where the family stopped which is to help activating tourism in such areas.