The Grand Egyptian Museum is Finally Open to the Public

The Grand Egyptian Museum is finally open to the public. After two decades of waiting, visitors can now visit 12 galleries. Just under a century ago, archaeologists were working near the Pyramids of Giza and found a secret tomb. The tomb turned out to be the resting place of Queen Hetepheres I, with some of the artefacts being over 4,600 years old. The throne, bed, and belongings have been restored, and now you can see the full collection at the GEM museum in Cairo. The museum is home to 100,000 artefacts, but they have been kept secret until now, providing an interesting travel opportunity for those who have a keen interest in Egyptian history.

Egypt is Putting a Big Focus on Tourism Right Now

Egypt is also ramping up its tourism opportunities right now, to try to drive as many people to new developments like this. In November 2022, the National Tourism Strategy launched with the aim of reaching 20 million tourists by 2028. They’re doing this by increasing flight seats by threefold, and in a year, this resulted in a 35% increase in travellers. Tourism experiences are also being enhanced across archaeological sites, with a big focus being put on entertainment and room capacity. In 2023, 14,209 new rooms were added to hotels across the country. Investments like this are being complemented by media efforts as well. 

Short, viral content surrounding Egyptian history has soared over the last year, with influencers and travel bloggers are also sharing their experiences of visiting Egypt on social media platforms. This, combined with new Egyptian content on Netflix and Amazon, goes to show how much Egypt is being pushed right now. Netflix's Finding Ola, for example, is set in Cairo, which draws attention to the region specifically. Games have also had a part to play in Egypt's sharp rise in popularity, with Egyptian themed online slots like Queen of Rebirth for example, showing Egypt’s continued cultural allure. In fact, if you search online slots for the term “Egypt,” you’ll notice that some sites offer over 10 different titles, including Age of Egypt, Egyptian Magic, and Big Egyptian Fortune.

The GEM Experience

The work put into creating the GEM experience is evident. The museum has a backdrop of the Great Pyramids of Giza, with ancient hanging obelisks and journeys through Ancient Egypt's belief systems. The 12 galleries cover the early Dynasties and span until the Late Period. You can easily spend hours going through each period, and it’s clear that a lot of time and effort have been put into making this not just another museum, but a full experience. Thousands of artifacts that have been previously sitting in storage are now proudly on display, including an ancient chessboard game called Senet.

One thing that visitors say could be improved is the fact that the descriptions could do a better job explaining the history behind the ancient objects, where it was found, and why they are significant. For this reason, if you are travelling from the UK, it’s a good idea to book on one of the tours, so you can get the full experience.