To the pyramids

Chinese tourists in Luxor, Egypt. [Photo/China Daily]

Egypt's travel industry is enjoying a new influx of Chinese visitors who are drawn to the country's ancient charms with the help of the Belt and Road Initiative. Yang Feiyue reports.

China's Belt and Road Initiative is expected to inject new life into Egypt's tourism sector.

As a country that was once part of the Silk Road, Egypt is expected to see great improvement in relations with China, says Shaarawy Abu, tourism counselor with the Egyptian embassy in Beijing.

Cooperation between Egypt and China in improving visa processes and increasing air travel (commercial and charter flights) is expected to boost tourism, Abu says.

A growing number of Chinese tourists have been traveling to Egypt, drawn to its ancient history, the pyramids, deserts and Red Sea resorts.

In 2014, about 65,000 Chinese tourists traveled to Egypt, according to the Egyptian embassy in Beijing.

In the first four months of this year, 50,000 Chinese tourists traveled to Egypt, a significant increase from the same period last year.

The embassy estimates that 200,000 Chinese visitors will have traveled to Egypt by the end of this year.

Egypt has made serious efforts to woo Chinese tourists.

Last May, Egypt supported the "Silk Road steps to eco-culture", a program initiated by China Eco-Culture Association to carry forward eco-culture and spread the essence of Chinese culture, says Abu.

Participants in the program traveled to Egypt to hold cultural exhibitions and take photos.