Turkish president says the move is also aimed at increasing the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza
mena4 hours ago
Egypt restarted international flights and reopened major tourist attractions, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, on Wednesday after over three months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The country closed its airports to scheduled international flights and shut famous historical sites in mid-March as the government looked to curb the spread of the virus.
That brought the tourist industry, which the government says accounts for 5 per cent of economic output but which analysts say may account for as much as 15 per cent if jobs and investment indirectly related to the industry are included, to a virtual halt.
Visitors were few at Giza on the first day, Reuters witnesses said, adding that they spotted only a handful of people at the normally packed site.
"It's a pretty place, this is where we see the symbol of Egypt and this is why we come here," said tourist Ravalonandrasana Maurice.
Meanwhile, 16 flights took off from Cairo International Airport on Wednesday, the aviation minister said. Two arrival terminals were empty in the morning but a screen showed four scheduled flights expected to arrive from Toulouse, Kuwait, Tunis and Amman.
Tourism and antiquities minister Khaled Al Anany said two chartered flights arrived Wednesday morning to airports in South Sinai and the Red Sea carrying tourists from Ukraine.
These provinces along the Red Sea Coast as well as Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean were allowed to reopen as they had the lowest case numbers so far.
The health ministry has registered 68,311 cases of the coronavirus and 2,953 deaths.
Turkish president says the move is also aimed at increasing the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza
mena4 hours ago
In another case at the same airport, officials apprehended five foreign nationals who tried to smuggle gold worth Rs.24.4 million
asia5 hours ago
More than 2,000 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested in the past two weeks across the US
americas5 hours ago
Fireballs and Smash tied for the lead in the team event at the $25 million 54 hole tournament
sports5 hours ago
The hosts strengthened their chances of securing a slot in the semifinals with a 70-run victory in Abu Dhabi
sports6 hours ago
The group has a presence in five countries and eyes further geographic expansion, especially in India
markets6 hours ago
The severity of the situation gradually eased from Thursday evening, when it receded in the north and east of the country
weather7 hours ago
Cyclone Hidaya is predicted to cause torrential rain, strong winds and powerful and dangerous waves in the flood-ravaged country
africa7 hours ago