Egypt has already begun its preparations to welcome tourists who will come to observe the total solar eclipse, scheduled for August 2, 2027, an event that is expected to last between five and just over six minutes. To organize the occasion, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities created a special committee.
In a statement, the ministry said that the committee will be responsible for coordinating all events related to the phenomenon, already dubbed “the eclipse of the century”. The longest duration of the eclipse, exceeding five minutes, will be recorded in the cities of Luxor and Siwa, which attracts great interest.
The historic city of Luxor, one of Egypt’s biggest tourist hubs, is home to crucial monuments from Ancient Egypt. Among them are the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Avenue of the Sphinxes, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
The Karnak complex, in particular, is a vast area with temples dedicated to the god Amun-Ra, a divine figure who unites Amun, the wind deity of the ancient city of Thebes, and Ra, the supreme sun god of Egypt.
Siwa, a remote region located in the Egyptian western desert, close to the border with Libya, is recognized for its lush oases and salty lakes.
The committee’s main mission is to ensure that all essential infrastructure and services are available to visitors, whether Egyptians or foreigners. The expectation is for a large flow of travelers, even considering that August is a low season period in Egypt, with temperatures that easily exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
Given the potential to “boost tourism”, the Egyptian government will also invest in a “broad promotion campaign” for the event, including the creation of an exclusive logo. In addition, “special eclipse viewing events” will be developed in both Siwa and Luxor.
To facilitate tourist access to these two locations, the committee has already discussed the possibility of organizing special charter flights, in addition to increasing the offer of road transport services.
