Cairo: patterns of tourism are about to change

The traditional patterns of tourism in Cairo are about to change. Cultural attractions in the Egyptian capital received 6.2 million visitors in 2008, of which 2.7 million alone went to the Egyptian Museum, arguably one of the greatest museums anywhere.

The 15,000m², 58-room Victorian edifice built in 1902 houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian exhibits (totalling some 120,000 items). It is reputed that many of its collections never see the light of day, being hidden away in dusty vaults that only top TV Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, or perhaps the fictional ‘Bembridge Scholars' from the film The Mummy, ever see.

Read more: Arabian Business