Grand Egyptian Museum draws over 5 million visitors in first year
The Japanese-supported museum in Giza is marking its anniversary with a nighttime show depicting life in ancient Egypt.
More than 5 million people visited the Grand Egyptian Museum during its opening year, as the institution near Cairo marked its first anniversary. The museum, built with support from Japan, recorded that attendance despite worsening conditions in the Middle East.
CEO Ahmed Ghoneim told reporters the museum had met its objective of drawing more tourists to the area around the pyramids. In Giza, the museum stands near the city's three pyramids, which belong to a UNESCO World Heritage site.
An anniversary nighttime show will use music and lighting to portray ancient Egyptian life. Its scenes include crop harvesting and the Nile's flooding.
The collection contains more than 100,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt, among them King Tutankhamun's golden mask and objects buried in his tomb. The institution ranks among the world's largest archaeological museums. Experts from Japan have helped restore excavated objects and train local technicians.
