Grand Egyptian Museum introduces time slots to cope with overwhelming crowds
The new museum, which has been averaging 19,000 daily visitors, will require online bookings starting December to regulate the rush
Thirty years in the making, the world’s biggest archaeological museum – and before its opening also the world’s most delayed museum – is now struggling to cope with the crowds.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, located near the Giza Pyramids, was opened on November 1 in a lavish ceremony attended by dozens of world leaders and media representatives.
Two weeks later, it is still welcoming an average of around 19,000 people every day, according to a spokesman.
The collection includes the glittering treasures of the ancient Egyptian child king Tutankhamun and the 42-metre solar boat of King Khufu, or Cheops.
Since visitor numbers have exceeded the expectations of Egyptian authorities, the museum is now bringing in new measures to try to regulate the rush of visitors who have flocked to see the collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts.
As of mid-November, tickets can only be booked for specific time slots, which often make it easier to control visitor flows.