THE OFFICAL SITE OF THE EGYPTIAN TOURIST AUTHORITY

A unique event in Abu Simbel

Date:
The festival of Abu Simbel, in February, is a fabulous period for those who can visit Abu Simbel and luckily admire in the meantime the incredible sunrise over the temple. Abu Simbel is a splendid temple built on a strict east – west axis so that the morning sun actually goes through the heart of the temple for 60 meters to reach the innermost sanctuary at dawn, illuminating the statues of Amon, Ramses II and Ra-Horakhty twice a year on Oct. 22nd and Feb. 22nd. This phenomenon is known as the “Perpendicular of the Sun on Abu Simbel”. It lasts for about 20 minutes . Outside the site, the magic will last for a fair and music demonstration. It is a unique phenomenon of the Temple that shows the architectural creativity of the ancient Egyptian architects, who wished to show and ensure the relationship between the temple and the Sun....

---

New Pyramid found in Egypt

Date:
Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities has announced the discovery of a 4300 year-old pyramid in Saqqara, the sprawling necropolis and burial site of the rulers of ancient Memphis. The new discovered pyramid is said to belong to Queen Sesheshet , the mother of King Teti , first King and founder of the 6th Dynasty of Egypt. The pyramid dates to over four millennium ago and is five meters high although it must have been about 14 meters originally. The archaeologists stated that the discovery of the pyramid will further enrich our understanding of the pyramids of the 6th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom....

---

Egypt on the way to a sustainable destination

Date:
Egyptian Ministry of Tourism hosts an international conference on sustainable tourism under the banner of “Egypt on the way to a sustainable destination”. Egyptian ministry of tourism and the Green Star Hotel initiative have invited key players in the regional and worldwide tourism industry to an international conference on December 17th nbsp; - 19th in El Gouna -Egypt’s most environmentally friendly destination. The conference will discuss standards for sustainable tourism development in the Middle East. The collaboration is for implementing an environmentally friendly sustainable management system in Egypt’s hotel industry. The goal of the initiative is to create an ecolabel for hotels and resorts in destination throughout Egypt and the Middle East. The aim of the conference is to give a platform to international and local experts to exchange ideas on the main challenges , existing standards and practical initiatives for making tourism more sustainable. The conference is expected to be attended by representatives from the tourism ministries of Egypt, Jordan ,Oman ,and Tunisia as well as from the UN Environment Program ,the UN World Tourism Organization ,the International Hotel Association, the World Travel Organization, and the International Federation of Tour Operators. For more information log into: www.greenstarhotel.net ...

---

Characters of Egypt, the Egyptian Tourist Authority celebrates Egypt's tribal heritage

Date:
Under the auspices of Mr. Amr EL Ezaby, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, and in collaboration with Wadi Environment Science Centre (WESC) and the Egyptian Desert Pioneer Society (EDPS), a festival celebrating the cultural heritage of Egyptian tribes to be held in Fustat Wadi EL Gemal National Park, 45 Kms. South of Marsa Allam. The Festival will take place October 29-31 and will bring tribes from all over Egypt to showcase their costumes, jewelry, food, sports, dance, games, music, poetry, etc For more information please log into: www.charactersofegypt.com ...

---

The Jazz Factory: A European Arab Music Celebration to be held in Cairo in November 2008

Date:
For the first time, Cairo will host "The Jazz Factory" a unique celebration of European and Arabic music from the 5th to the 14th of November 2008. The Jazz Factory will include highly accomplished music groups and musicians from eleven European countries as well as groups from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco and Palestine that play a very diverse range of musical styles; from traditional jazz to jazz flamenco, oriental jazz, Afro Cuban jazz, experimental jazz and more. The concerts will be spread over diverse venues in Cairo including Manial Palace, Manesterly Palace, Amir Taz Palace, El Genaina Theatre, The Arabic Music Institute, and Sawy Cultural Wheel. The Jazz Factory is an initiative by the European Commission's Delegation to Egypt, together with the Embassies of Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, the United Kingdom and France in cooperation with the Egyptian Tourist Authority , the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy). For more information please log into: www.mawred.org ...

---