An E-Ticketing system has been implemented starting Wednesday at the Baron Palace in Heliopolis, the Royal Chariots Museum in Bulaq, and the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace in Manial, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced.
Cash payments are no longer allowed at the three archaeological sites, according to the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri.
The move comes to implement the ministry’s strategy for a comprehensive digital transformation.
Bank cards of all kinds can be used purchase tickets at the three locations.
Waziri stressed the importance of this step, which is now bearing fruit in the archaeological sites and museums that have seen it applied, as it greatly contributes to improving the tourism experience for visitors and better facilitates the entry process.
The Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Digital Transformation Khaled Sherif announced that POS machines were provided in the three places, in addition to providing tickets for Egyptians via the egymonuments website.
A digital transformation
Sherif explained that the ministry is currently implementing the third phase of the digital transformation project, which includes converting about 120 archaeological sites and museums nationwide to non-cash payment.
Various major international tourist websites have praised this step and placed Egypt among the preferred tourist attractions, he said, as many tourists prefer to use bank cards instead of carrying cash.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities during May began to limit the purchase of tickets to archaeological sites and museums to bank cards of all kinds, excluding cash payment.
The step was first implemented in Aswan Governorate, which turned to non-cash payment completely in the temples of Edfu, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel, Philae, the Nubian Museum and the Unfinished Obelisk.
The same system was applied in a number of other archaeological sites and museums in Cairo, including the Giza pyramids area, the Citadel, and the Egyptian Museum.
Cash payment for Egyptian school trips is permitted only on a temporary basis, until the Ministry finishes implementing an E-portal that allows various schools to pre-book their school trips and pay for it using bank cards.
