Project to turn Fayyum monuments into tourist attraction
Egypt, Economics, 1/17/2002

Fayyum is a an area rich in its natural and cultural resources. The beauty of nature is found in Qaroun Lake and Wadi Al Rayan preserve while its archaeological potential lies in the city of Madi that goes back to the second century BC.

The many ancient churches, which have been subject to study by Piza University for 20 years, stand witness to the flourishing of ancient life in Fayyum.

A project has been recently initiated in Fayyum by the Supreme Council for Antiquities in cooperation with Piza University to convert Fayyum into a unique cultural city that gives peculiar attention to the environment, to handicrafts and cultural heritage.

The budget of the project is estimated at LE4 million extended by the Italian Government. The project to be carried out over two years was prompted by the fact that Fayyum had lost its archaeological significance owing to negligence and laxity in publicising its monuments.

THe project starts with Madi City, which had stressed the political and economic importance of the area since the Intermediate State.

The city which is seven kilometres east Wadi Al Rayan preserve is the starting point for protecting the sand dunes area, the rare animals and plants found there in addition to the monuments.

The project involves two stages: the first starts with linking archaeological sites in Madi and other places to the natural preserve in order to combine the pleasure of seeing heritage of the past with fabulous scenery of the water falls and wild life.

Wadi Al Rayan preserve is already one of the attraction spots frequented by about l50,000 visitors per year. Italian experts expect that the place with its unique combination will become a place rarely found elsewhere in Egypt.

The expected influx of tourists will, however, lead to attracting the attention to cultural activities and manual products in the area which is associated with the second stage of upgrading.

This stage involves expanding the cultural area to cover rural districts to allow tourists to mix with peasants there.

Fayyum on the whole then is to be prepared for receiving large number of tourists.

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