Egypt reopens tourist sites

Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s newly appointed minister of antiquities, is planning to reopen Egypt’s most famous tourist sites on Sunday.

According to a statement from Dr Hawass “all of the Pharaonic, Coptic, Islamic and modern sites” will reopen, in the hopes that “tourists from around the world will soon return to Egypt”.

The decision was made following a meeting with members of the ministry and the Antiquities and Tourism Police.

Security measures were discussed due to concern about Egypt’s antiquities being damaged or stolen during the recent upheaval.

Dr Hawass, former secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, was appointed to the new post January 30 under former president Hosni Mubarak.

Mubarak stepped down Friday after 18 days of protests and unrest.

The popular Nile cruising destination Luxor began to re-establish itself earlier this week.

However, the Foreign Office continues to advise against “all but essential” travel to all four governorates of Cairo – including Giza, Helwan and 6 October - Alexandria and Suez.

Travel along the Suez Canal, which is operating normally, is not affected by the present political situation in the country.