For the past few months, Egypt has been making headlines as archaeologists unearth exquisite new discoveries and ruins that have huge futuristic significance for the economy and tourism sectors.
Magnificent discoveries
Egypt’s most recent excavation is that of a rare 4,500-year-old stone sculpture found last April by a farmer working his land in the southern Gaza Strip. The 22-centimeter (6.7-inch) tall limestone head is believed to represent the Canaanite goddess Anat and is estimated to be dated to around 2,500 B.C.
“Anat was, for ancient Egyptians, the goddess of love, beauty, and war in the Canaanite mythology,” said Jamal Abu Rida, the director of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Another significant discovery occurred in mid-March this year during an excavation northwest of the Pyramid of Merenre in Saqqara. The search resulted in the discovery of five colorful, well-preserved tombs containing many burials and archaeological finds from the Old Kingdom and the First Transition Period.
Mostafa El-Waziri, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Antiquities Council, said that the tombs belonged to senior royal officials. The first tomb belonged to a member of the royal court named IRY, while the second tomb belonged to his wife. The third tomb also belonged to a high-ranking member while the fourth belonged to a priestess “responsible for the king’s beautification”. The fifth tomb belonged to a man who bore several titles, including that of a prince.
Perhaps the most significant discovery is that of a 3,000-year-old city, an Egyptian Pompei known as Aten, that was lost to the sands many years ago. First uncovered by scientists in September 2020, but not officially announced till April 2021, this ancient Egyptian settlement has left experts amazed at the preservation of buildings and artifacts. Located in the western bank of Luxor city and was, it was chosen by acclaimed UK publication The Sun as the most significant discovery of 2021.
The dig of Aten revealed a large number of valuable jewelry, colored pottery, scarab beetle amulets and mud bricks bearing seals dating back to Amenhotep III.
“The city seems to be built by Amenhotep III, who was the grandfather of the famous Tutankhamun and one of the most powerful pharaohs of the 18th dynasty,” Egyptologist and university professor Salima Ikram told the BBC.
“When you walk around, it’s like you’re walking into the past and seeing all the pottery, handicrafts, and other things.”
The digging of The Lost City started in September 2020 but it was not until April 2021 that several areas or neighborhoods were uncovered, including a bakery, an administrative district, and a residential area. Egyptologists hope further investigation will answer important questions about the way of life during the reign of one of Egypt’s most powerful and enduring pharaohs.
These dazzling discoveries and ruins aid in cementing Egypt’s status as a global archeological gem that serves as a national tourist attraction site.
Numbers on tourism
In fact, these excavations could signify a boost in Egypt’s travel and tourism sector which constitutes 12% of the country’s national GDP. The sector had taken a sharp hit during the pandemic, whereby, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, travel restrictions and Covid-19 lockdowns wiped out $17.6 billion from Egypt’s economy in 2020, including 844,000 travel and tourism jobs. Also, according to the UN World Tourism Organization, the country’s foreign tourist arrivals dropped by 72% and international tourism receipts dropped 66% that same year.
However, the sector began a rapid recovery in 2021 following the worldwide lifting of the travel bans. Tourism revenues reached around $3.1 billion in the first half of 2021 and while no data is available on the second half of that year, sources say that figures surpassed governmental expectations set by the ministry last summer.
Now, Egypt is trying to capitalize on its recent excavations and officials are betting that the new ancient discoveries will set it apart in the post-pandemic tourism market.
As part of its economic revival plan, Egypt will soon be hosting international tourism and archaeological events, including the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which coincides with the centenary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb on November 4.
These touristic strategies are not the only master plan Egypt is resorting to in an effort to pull its economy out of its economic slump. The sun-kissed country had asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for $3.5 billion in aid as it has been hard hit by the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as repercussions from currency devaluation as part of promised reforms. The country is estimated to shoulder a whopping $400 billion in debt.
It is clear that Egypt is fighting to revive its tourism and economic sectors, and as its illustrious past emerges from the country’s vast, golden sands, only time can reveal how successful those efforts are.
