The Grand Egyptian Museum Authority announced on Wednesday that trial operations for its Main Galleries began on October 16, 2024, offering visitors an exclusive preview of twelve curated exhibition halls, an official statement showed.
GEM trial phase
This trial phase is part of the museum’s efforts to ensure a seamless visitor experience ahead of its highly anticipated official opening, the statement noted.
The Grand Egyptian Museum’s (GEM) Main Galleries offer a look at thousands of years of history, from prehistoric times (700,000 BC) to the Roman era (around 394 AD). Visitors will see a variety of artifacts organized into three themes—Kingship, Society, and Beliefs—showing how these aspects influenced the relationships between ancient Egyptian rulers, their people, and the gods.
Guests can choose to experience the galleries chronologically, by focusing on specific themes, or by
combining both approaches to create personalized journeys, the authority explained. This offers a unique opportunity to witness the development of Egyptian culture from its earliest roots to its complex, vibrant civilization.
In addition to the Main Galleries, visitors can continue to enjoy the museum’s accessible spaces, including the Children’s Museum, outdoor gardens, and the GEM’s commercial area that includes restaurants, cafes, and shops showcasing leading Egyptian brands, it added.
Impact on tourism
The GEM is expected to have a significant positive impact on tourism revenue in Egypt. Designed to be the largest museum in the world, it will showcase over 100,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt.
The GEM is anticipated to attract millions of visitors each year, both domestically and internationally. This surge in tourist numbers will directly enhance tourism revenue through ticket sales, hotel stays, and related expenditures.
Moreover, the construction of the GEM has spurred substantial improvements in the surrounding infrastructure, including transportation, accommodation, and dining options. These enhancements make it more convenient and enjoyable for tourists to visit Egypt, further boosting tourism revenue.
The GEM is also designed to provide a world-class cultural experience, allowing visitors to engage with ancient Egyptian history and culture in an immersive way. This focus on cultural tourism is likely to attract more culturally-oriented travelers, who tend to spend more during their visits.
Tourism revenue
Egypt’s tourism sector raked in $6.6 billion in revenues during the first half of 2024, marking a 5% increase from the $6.3 billion generated in the same period of 2023 and an 18% jump from the $5.6 billion recorded in 2010, a peak year for tourism.
