BBC Travel chose Egypt as the best place to visit this year, especially with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
In its report, entitled “Why 2020 is the year to visit Cairo,” the BBC stated that tourism to Cairo has dwindled since the 2011 Revolution, but locals see the new GEM as a chance to reintroduce the world to Egypt’s bustling capital.
The mega museum is considered one of Egypt’s most instrumental players in luring tourism back and reviving the country’s main source of income. It will host the complete collection of Tutankhamen’s belongings for the first time in history since they’re discovery.
The opening was planned to take place in 2018, then it was postponed until reaching the last quarter of 2020.
Lauren K Clark, an American writer who has been living in Egypt since 2010, told BBC that Cairo has “an energetic pulse.” She attributes the city’s energy to its varied cultures, social classes, and natural environment, explaining that each part of the city has its own vibe and culture where these facets shine.
“And the fascinating thing is that Cairo has managed to sustain all these different entities. This is the magic and wonder of the city,” she added.
During the report the BBC, talked about the New Administrative Capital, praising the government’s efforts in establishing it, stating that “the new government has embarked on an ambitious plan to rebuild the capital 45km east of Cairo in an area currently called the New Administrative Capital. The plan includes creating a “smart city” with cashless transportation payments and abundant parks and greenery covering an eventual 700 square km, but funding shortages have caused numerous delays in progress.”
