As Egypt’s tourism industry slowly gets back on track, the country is for the first time since the 2011 revolution, promoting itself as a destination for Christian pilgrimage.
In a unique partnership between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Egyptian state, it is marketing itineraries linked to the Holy Family in Egypt.
The tourism ministry said it hopes to attract at least 500,000 pilgrims by next year.
The pilgrimage will take in five to seven stops beginning in the city of Al-Arish (North Sinai), via the Eastern Delta of the Nile, to Wadi Natroun, which features four important monasteries.
Cairo’s Coptic sites will also be covered including the 4th century Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus.
"Egypt is working to present itself to the world as a positive and peaceful country and this is a very important project not only for the country but for the rest of the world," said Coptic Patriarch Tawadros, alongside Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab at the Cairo launch event.
Meanwhile Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou is looking east to further boost inbound tourism.
"I’m going to concentrate more and more in the coming few weeks on China. There is a proposition to have a charter operation for the first time from China," said Zaazou.
