CAIRO: After three years of renovation, Egypt opened the Khafra Pyramid to visitors along with 6 royal and top officials tombs dating to the Old Dynasty, Minister of Tourism Mohamed Ibrahim said at a press conference. The minister said the renovation included restoration and air circulation work inside the smallest of the three Giza Pyramids on the outskirts of the capital, Cairo. The announcement comes as Egypt continues to struggle to regain tourists since the January 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak from power. According to reports, a cruise ship canceled a docking in Egypt after anti-American protests in September left safety and security questionable for the travelers. Another setback for a country that before the January 2011 uprising ousted their dictator Hosni Mubarak relied on tourism income as a major source of the economy. Despite the negatives of recent months, the government continues to move forward on its efforts to reassure foreigners that Egypt is a place to visit, its beaches and resort life a high-end destination and mid-level prices. Tourism had accounted for some 10 percent of the country's economy. The Brotherhood's political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) told Bikyamasr.com in a statement in June that they “hope to build a new united Egypt" and have “no plans to affect the current situation" when it comes to tourism. Still, worries abound, among both Egyptians and foreigners, over what the future for Egypt will bring. The opening of the pyramid could entice visitors.
