By Akram Medhat
CNN's news website has announced the world's 19 best tourist destinations for travel lovers in 2019, and Egypt was among the destinations nominated. In its selections, the website addressed the varied wishes of tourists around the world, whether they want to relax on beaches, climb mountains and go on valley adventures, explore the secrets of ancient antiquities and early civilizations, eat world-famous food, or get to know important historical sites.
The website said that many of the 19 nominated destinations that tourists will visit in 2019 may coincide with anniversaries of important historical events, such as 50 years since humanity's first trip to the Moon, as well as the centennial of Grand Canyon National Park when visiting the United States. Whether a tourist wants rest, exploration, learning, or all three, there is a destination on this list for them.
CNN ranked the destinations in alphabetical order of their English names, which is why Egypt came second among them.
On Egypt, CNN focused on the archaeological tourism that distinguishes many Egyptian tourist cities, as the country was the cradle of history and built the world's greatest civilizations. According to the website, the land of the pharaohs has welcomed tourists for a long time, and it is a wonder that archaeologists have not discovered hieroglyphics depicting travelers.
Although CNN chose Egypt among the destinations it recommends to travelers in 2019, it pointed to the blows tourism has suffered in recent years due to security concerns and political unrest that kept many visitors away. It noted the incident that took place near the Giza Pyramids last December 28, which killed 4 people, showing that serious security problems remain, as the website put it. While that may make some reconsider their choice, others will continue traveling to a country that is regaining its tourism standing.
The website noted that many archaeological discoveries were announced in Egypt during the past year and have been opened to the public, especially in the Pyramids archaeological area, as Egypt has proven time and again that it holds many secrets yet to be revealed.
It stressed that hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings every year without any incidents, and that Egypt's main Red Sea resorts are likewise considered safe.
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The CNN report expected Egypt to launch a major tourism campaign in the coming months, as it prepares to open the Grand Egyptian Museum by 2020.
The list of tourist destinations nominated by CNN for 2019 included:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Egypt
Fukuoka, Japan
Ghana
Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States
Hawaii Island, United States
The Hebrides, Scotland, UK
Jaffa, Israel
Kerala, India
Liechtenstein, the Alps, Central Europe
Lima, Peru
New York City, United States
Normandy, France
Oaxaca, Mexico
Oman
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
St. Barts, French West Indies
Space Coast, Florida, United States
Weimar, Germany
