‘Seemingly limitless’ ancient wonders among reasons why you should visit Egypt: CNN Travel

CAIRO – 15 January 2021: CNN Travel has set a list of 21 places to visit amid the pandemic this year, including Egypt, especially for its ancient wonders and new discoveries of pharaonic antiquities.

The report of the CNN shed light on Egypt’s “seemingly limitless” ancient wonders and the upcoming inauguration of the half a million square meter Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids.

The report reminded the readers that the GEM, which is yet to be inaugurated, will exhibit King Tutankhamun’s treasures together for the first time.

“No doubt more new discoveries will be added to the lineup -- providing a deep dive into 5,000 years of history that can also be traced by trekking across Egypt to the tombs themselves,” the report read.

The report also advised readers to visit Antarctica, Canada, Disney parks, Dubai, France, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, New Zealand, New York City, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

“We're fully aware that some of these destinations may remain off limits for some time to come and that embarking on a trip may not be advisable,” the report added.

In November, in an international press conference attended by more than 300 members of local and foreign media and press members, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of more than 100 sealed coffins from the Ptolemaic and late period.

Forty wooden statues of Ptah Sokar, Ushabti statues, amulets and gilded masks were discovered, and for the first time an X-Ray scanning was done live on one of the discovered mummies.

The Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum will be the largest museum in the world dedicated to ancient Egyptian culture.

This is one of a kind museum is tailor made to preserve and exhibits Egypt precious national heritage with state-of-the-art conservation laboratories, along with educational facilities, temporary exhibition halls, a children’s museum, a conference centre, restaurants, cafes, shops and large gardens for everyone to enjoy.

GEM will house over 5000 artifacts of Egypt’s most famous king Tutankhamun, from his royal tomb, many never seen in public before. The Main Galleries show material from the Prehistoric to the Roman periods, while our entrance areas focus on Kingship and Power.

All GEM exhibitions will be contextualised for the visitor, with stories, texts, digital interactives and media displays.

The cherry on top that Grand Egyptian Museum will contain the first ever hanging obelisk on show at the entrance of the museum.

Coronavirus measures

In a December visit to France where he met with President Emmanuel Macron, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi reassured French tourists that Red Sea resorts in at the Red Sea such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada have almost zero cases of coronavirus.

He highlighted the anti-coronavirus efforts in Egypt, noting that the coronavirus cases in Egypt in general are quite moderate.

Egypt thanks the countries that decided to resume tourism with the African country, the foreign ministry said in a statement after a meeting with a number of European ambassadors in November.

The foreign ministry invited other countries to allow citizens to visit Egypt, in light of the strict procedures taken by the Egyptian authorities to secure tourist attractions, which record almost zero coronavirus cases.