A member of the History and Antiquities Committee of the Supreme Council for Culture, Abdel Rahim Rihan, affirmed that the ‘Great Transfiguration’ project in South Sinai represents a major leap forward by transforming the city of Saint Catherine, known for its rich historical and religious heritage, into a global tourist destination.
In a phone-in interview with the “Eight AM” program on DMC channel on Tuesday, Rihan said, “The ‘Great Transfiguration’ project aims to develop the South Sinai region and open new horizons for Egyptian tourism to the whole world, especially as the South Sinai region has many religious and historical landmarks.”
The project is scheduled to open in October, he added.
“The ‘Great Transfiguration’ project in South Sinai began on July 21, 2020, with a visit by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and concerned ministers to Saint Catherine, where they listened to all the visions of the responsible authorities, including the monks of the monastery, antiquities inspectors, and environmental officials, and a project plan was developed in line with UNESCO standards, as the region has been registered as a World Heritage Site since 2002,” he explained.
Rihan added that, “The aim of the project is to create a spiritual destination on Mount Moses and Mount Sinai and to invest in all the tourism resources in the city of Saint Catherine specifically, and Sinai in general.”
“It includes about 14 projects, including a visitor center in the Holy Valley Square, which is a first for a tourist site as a reception and guidance point for visitors, and it has all the services such as booking offices, a cafeteria, and a planetarium for watching 3D films about the spiritual value of the area, in addition to waiting areas, electric cars, and a recreation area,” he explained.
