By Akram Medhat
The Ministry of Antiquities has begun issuing a new type of visit permit for museums and archaeological sites in the governorates of Cairo and Giza, under the name "Cairo Pass".
Mostafa El-Saghir, a member of the technical office of the Assistant Minister of Antiquities, stated that the permits allow foreign holders to enter all ancient Egyptian, Islamic and Coptic museums and archaeological sites open to visitors in Cairo and Giza governorates for five consecutive days during official visiting hours, with unlimited entries during the permit's validity period.
El-Saghir explained that the step comes as part of the ministry's plan to restore inbound tourist traffic to Egypt and increase its financial resources, especially after the ministry launched a number of combined permits last year, which helped encourage foreigners and Egyptians alike to visit museums and archaeological sites.
El-Saghir added that the Cairo Pass costs $80 for foreign tourists and $40 for foreign students, and is distributed at the ministry's Cultural Relations Department headquarters in Zamalek and at the ticket offices of the major archaeological sites, namely the Giza Pyramids area, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the Citadel of Salah El-Din in Cairo.
For her part, Eman Zidan, Assistant Minister of Antiquities for the Development of Financial Resources, said tourists will be able to obtain the permit immediately upon presenting their passport, or student card, and a personal photo to the relevant employee at the ticket offices.
It is worth noting that last year the Ministry of Antiquities launched a number of combined permits for Egyptian, foreign and Arab visitors in a bid to restore inbound tourist traffic to Egypt. These include the "Luxor Pass", for foreign visitors only, to visit all archaeological sites and museums in Luxor for five consecutive days. It comes in two types: the first covers all archaeological sites and museums except the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari and costs $100 for foreign visitors and $50 for foreign students, while the second covers all archaeological sites and museums including the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari, at $200 for foreign visitors and $100 for foreign students.
In addition, there is the annual visit permit for foreigners residing in Egypt, costing $340 for foreigners working at embassies and international organizations in Egypt, to visit all open archaeological sites and museums in Luxor, including the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari, or $240 without them.
There are also the combined annual tickets for Egyptians launched previously, for entry to all archaeological sites and museums across the country, costing EGP 100 for students of public, private and international schools, a subscription of EGP 150 for Egyptian, foreign and Arab university students, and EGP 400 for non-students, with free entry for anyone over the age of sixty and for all school trips.
