An historic clean up at the pyramids. For millennia¹, this world wonder has wowed visitors. But coronavirus killed off Egypt's tourism and with it, the livelihoods² of millions. Like Ashraf - unable to feed his family, he kept his favourite camel, but had to sell two others.

 

这是对金字塔遗址进行的一次具有历史意义的清理工作。数千年来，这个世界奇观让游客们叹为观止。但新冠肺炎病毒扼杀了埃及的旅游业，也随之夺走了数百万人的生计。像阿什拉夫这样，因为无法养活家人，他只留下了最钟爱的一头载客骆驼，而不得不卖掉另外两头骆驼。

 

"It has been tough on everyone," he says. "I have no money. A camel's food alone costs six dollars a day."

 

The ancient attractions are now reopening, but they're empty except for the occasional local visitor. It's a blow after tourism had just recovered from years of turmoil³.

 

Guide Shahenda loves taking tourists around her country. Since the pandemic, she's lost a thousand holiday bookings. For now, she's only sightseeing with her husband.

 

We had to cancel flights, hotels, and that includes everyone who works in the hotel. The company itself and people behind desks - we all lost our jobs. And then you have drivers, you have cars, restaurants – all of these things are down.

 

The tourism minister's on a mission to bring back business and revive the economy, highlighting new hygiene⁴ and safety rules and showing how foreigners can now fly in to some beach resorts.

 

Khalid Al-Anany, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities⁵

We lost around one billion dollars per month and we are estimating that we will still lose a lot of money during the next coming weeks and months.

 

Restoring tourism will take time. But Egypt's counting on the enduring allure⁶ of its rich pharaonic past. And for a star attraction, what could be more appropriate these days than a golden face mask?

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