Egypt concentrates on history

Egypt has revealed new plans to encourage more tourists to the country, focussing on its long and illustrious history.

The country's culture ministry has announced that it is to build a museum in every town as part of an effort to raise cultural and archaeological awareness among travellers.

While everyone may know about the pyramids, Egypt is hoping to build on this reputation for historical wonders by showing off more of its past through the museums.

Together with small museums to be built across the country, Egypt is also planning some grand structures, which will be the government programme's flagship tourist attractions.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is to be opened in 2010 and will be larger than the UK's British Museum in London, at a cost of £190 million. Established just two kilometres from the pyramids in Cairo, it is anticipated that the museum will be a huge draw for thousands of tourists.

Ahmed El Khadem, chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, commented: "These projects will undoubtedly provide visitors with a fascinating and lasting insight into our culture."