Egypt, renowned for its massive pyramids, is spending $51 million to upgrade the Pyramids of Giza tourist experience. While the site is still massively popular, runaway overcrowding, mismanagement, and concerns about street vendors and animal cruelty have marred tourists’ experiences.
To mitigate these issues, Orascom Pyramids Entertainment Services Company has initiated the lead in this process of renovation. The company aims to implement 45 electric buses with a frequency of five minutes to facilitate movement around the site. The improvements also involve the renewal of various tombs, improvement of the visitor center, and establishment of an online ticketing system. Steps will also be introduced to help improve animal welfare within the site.
Preservation of the Historical Site
Naguib Sawiris, the businessman who owns Orascom Telecom and Orascom Investment Holding, underscored the need to give priority to the welfare of the public and the protection of the historical site. On X, Sawiris declared, “The health and happiness of the public and protection of this treasure are much more significant than giving away to the interests of 2,000 persons who have inflicted injury to the nation for years.”
Animal Cruelty Issues Trigger Investigation
Animal welfare has been a major issue at the Pyramids of Giza. PETA recently carried out an investigation which showed evidence of cruelty, including regular punching, kicking, whipping, and starvation of camels and horses. The organization also discovered that the animals were dumped after death.
PETA Vice President for Asia, Jason Baker, said in a statement to The Mirror, “PETA has recorded the regular punching, kicking, whipping, and starvation of camels and horses at the pyramids. Animals are ridden literally to death and discarded like trash at the gate.” He added again, “The Pyramids of Giza ought to represent Egypt‘s beauty and history – not unregulated animal cruelty. The Egyptian government should act to free these suffering animals from Giza.”
These reforms and renovations seek to provide a greater experience for visitors as well as the animals used in the Pyramids of Giza.
