Sharm el-Sheikh prepares for antiquities museum opening
Egypt is getting ready to open the first antiquities museum in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh later this year, in the hope of boosting the tourism sector that has been badly affected by the coronavirus lockdown.
CAIRO — Engineers and construction workers are working hard to complete the construction of the first antiquities museum in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, before its official opening later this year.
The museum is set to house more than 3,000 artifacts, representing all of Egypt’s historical phases. It is part of a plan by Egypt's tourism authorities to diversify tourist attractions in Sharm el-Sheikh and bring the ancient Egyptian civilization to a city that, according to Mo'men Osman, head of the Museums Section at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, has been known for its beaches and mountains since it was built as a resort almost five decades ago.
“This is a huge project that aims to introduce a new tourist product that adds to the attractions of the city,” Osman told Al-Monitor. “We hope that it can play a role in attracting more tourists to the city.”
The construction of the museum started before the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of then-President Hosni Mubarak.
