Pyramids' new entrance trial faces backlash despite record number of visitors - Tourism
The trial opening of the new entrance to the Giza Plateau's newly developed area faced a backlash despite the record number of visitors flocking.
The difficulties have been attributed to the inadequacy of new transportation and protests from traditional horse and camel owners.
Horse and camel owners, traditionally providing rides to tourists, gathered near a newly designated road entrance to the area, blocking tourist buses and chanting against the development due to concerns about their livelihoods.
The project—a collaboration between the Egyptian government and the privately owned Orascom Pyramids Entertainment (OPE)—has closed the traditional direct entrance to the Pyramids near the Marriott Mena House.
Instead, a new organised entrance has been established on the Fayoum Highway, south of the Giza Pyramids, to alleviate congestion and pollution concerns.
Under the new system, private cars and tourist buses are barred from entering the site, with eco-friendly electric vehicles now providing transportation within the area.
Additionally, horse and camel owners—who previously operated independently—were relocated to other areas to organise camel and horse riding for visitors without interfering with main transportation routes.
However, several visitors and tourist guides took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, sharing chaotic scenes depicting visitors struggling to access the site amid the "insufficient number of electric vehicles".
The OPE, responsible for operating electric vehicles within the area, stated that the initial hours of the trial operation were smooth, with a record 13,800 visitors between 7:00 am and 11:00 am on Tuesday. In a statement, the company went on to say that problems began at 11:00 am after the number of visitors started to increase significantly and after horse and camel owners blocked the road at several locations without what they described as "decisive intervention from security authorities." The company blamed the protesters for disrupting transportation in the area, accusing them of threatening to hurt the company's employees and damage its buses.
Despite the setbacks, OPE affirmed its commitment to the trial operation with the government to identify problems and gather feedback for practical solutions. It added that it has presented a proposal to allow tourism companies to use their own electric buses within the plateau to help facilitate transportation.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issued a statement saying the area saw 12,000 visitors on Tuesday, representing a 120 percent increase over the area's average daily visitor numbers.
The ministry attributed the disruption in transportation in the area to the failure of some horsemen and camel owners "to adhere to designated parking zones," which led to delays in the arrival of buses transporting visitors between the various visitation routes in the area at the specified times."
In contrast to OEP's statement, the Ministry of Tourism stressed that the animal owners were swiftly returned to their designated locations and bus traffic resumed smoothly.
It added that the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, directed that the number of tourist buses operating in the area be increased to address the problem. Despite its commitment to a long-term plan to introduce electric buses, the ministry said Fathy approved the immediate deployment of additional diesel buses to ease transportation.
Furthermore, the ministry affirmed that it was committed to closely monitoring the trial operation to ensure a smooth and efficient experience for all visitors as the new system is fully implemented.
The Great Pyramid of Giza, the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, is a powerful symbol of Egypt's heritage and a cornerstone of its tourism industry, one of the country's primary sources of foreign currency.
The Egyptian government has developed a national tourism strategy to boost the sector to attract 30 million visitors by 2028.
In 2024, Egypt welcomed 15.7 million tourists and generated $14.1 billion in total revenue, exceeding the previous record of 14.9 million visitors set in 2023.
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Pyramids' new entrance trial faces backlash despite record number of visitors - Tourism
The trial opening of the new entrance to the Giza Plateau's newly developed area faced a backlash despite the record number of visitors flocking. The difficulties have been attributed to the inadequacy of new transportation and protests from traditional horse and camel owners. Horse and camel owners, traditionally providing rides to tourists, gathered near a newly designated road entrance to the area, blocking tourist buses and chanting against the development due to concerns about their livelihoods. The project—a collaboration between the Egyptian government and the privately owned Orascom Pyramids Entertainment (OPE)—has closed the traditional direct entrance to the Pyramids near the Marriott Mena House. Instead, a new organised entrance has been established on the Fayoum Highway, south of the Giza Pyramids, to alleviate congestion and pollution concerns. Under the new system, private cars and tourist buses are barred from entering the site, with eco-friendly electric vehicles now providing transportation within the area. Additionally, horse and camel owners—who previously operated independently—were relocated to other areas to organise camel and horse riding for visitors without interfering with main transportation routes. However, several visitors and tourist guides took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, sharing chaotic scenes depicting visitors struggling to access the site amid the "insufficient number of electric vehicles". The OPE, responsible for operating electric vehicles within the area, stated that the initial hours of the trial operation were smooth, with a record 13,800 visitors between 7:00 am and 11:00 am on Tuesday. In a statement, the company went on to say that problems began at 11:00 am after the number of visitors started to increase significantly and after horse and camel owners blocked the road at several locations without what they described as "decisive intervention from security authorities." The company blamed the protesters for disrupting transportation in the area, accusing them of threatening to hurt the company's employees and damage its buses. Despite the setbacks, OPE affirmed its commitment to the trial operation with the government to identify problems and gather feedback for practical solutions. It added that it has presented a proposal to allow tourism companies to use their own electric buses within the plateau to help facilitate transportation. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issued a statement saying the area saw 12,000 visitors on Tuesday, representing a 120 percent increase over the area's average daily visitor numbers. The ministry attributed the disruption in transportation in the area to the failure of some horsemen and camel owners "to adhere to designated parking zones," which led to delays in the arrival of buses transporting visitors between the various visitation routes in the area at the specified times." In contrast to OEP's statement, the Ministry of Tourism stressed that the animal owners were swiftly returned to their designated locations and bus traffic resumed smoothly. It added that the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, directed that the number of tourist buses operating in the area be increased to address the problem. Despite its commitment to a long-term plan to introduce electric buses, the ministry said Fathy approved the immediate deployment of additional diesel buses to ease transportation. Furthermore, the ministry affirmed that it was committed to closely monitoring the trial operation to ensure a smooth and efficient experience for all visitors as the new system is fully implemented. The Great Pyramid of Giza, the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, is a powerful symbol of Egypt's heritage and a cornerstone of its tourism industry, one of the country's primary sources of foreign currency. The Egyptian government has developed a national tourism strategy to boost the sector to attract 30 million visitors by 2028. In 2024, Egypt welcomed 15.7 million tourists and generated $14.1 billion in total revenue, exceeding the previous record of 14.9 million visitors set in 2023. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
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