Tourism expert Mohamed Eid affirmed that the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel’s ranking of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) as the third most visited museum in the world, with a total of 6.5 million visitors, marks a historic new achievement for Egypt’s record of tourism successes. Eid explained that this ranking showcases the global standing the GEM has attained as a unique cultural landmark, the Sada al-Balad channel reported on its website on Thursday. It is also the first Egyptian museum to secure a place on this prestigious international list, thus enhancing the nation’s global reputation as a leading cultural tourism destination.

This achievement reflects the success of the state’s plans to develop tourism infrastructure and promote Egypt internationally as a tourist destination, he added. According to Eid, the museum’s overwhelming popularity confirms the growing global interest in ancient Egyptian civilization. The GEM has become one of the most important tourist attractions in the region, he added, especially given its unique collection of archaeological treasures – particularly the complete collection of King Tutankhamun. He anticipates that the upcoming tourist season will witness further growth in visitor numbers.