Record crowds overwhelm newly opened Belgian-Built Egyptian Museum
The newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses the full collection of objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb and an 11-metre-high statue of Ramses II, is already taking measures to manage an overwhelming surge in visitor numbers.
The museum, which opened in early November, has been inundated with crowds far exceeding expectations. From this weekend onwards, tickets can only be purchased for a designated time slot. According to the museum, from December, all tickets must be booked online in advance.
Belgian construction company Besix, headquartered in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, was responsible for the construction, lighting, air-conditioning, ICT systems, the transport of several key artefacts and even the labelling for the displays.
Since opening its doors, the museum has been receiving around 19,000 visitors per day, placing it firmly on track to become one of the most visited museums in the world. Only the Louvre in Paris and the National Museum of China in Beijing currently attract higher daily visitor numbers.
Visitors walk past ancient Egyptian colossal statues along the Grand Staircase at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
©KHALED DESOUKI / AFP
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