by André Azzam

Twice a year, a ceremony is held for the pharaoh. The 2011 revolution sank the tourist sector with revenues dropping last year by US$ 385 million. A group of 500 disabled people take part in the overnight celebration, courtesy of the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports.

Cairo (AsiaNews) - For more than 3300 years, the Abu Simbel temples complex witnesses the same extraordinary event twice a year. At dawn on 22 February and 22 October, the first rays of sunlight penetrate the mountains and the vast hall of the temple of Ramses II until they reach the statue of the god in the sacred chapel, illuminating his face. This happens on the day of his birth and the day of his coronation as pharaoh of Egypt.

Usually, thousands of foreign tourists and Egyptians stay overnight to see the god Ra encounter Ramses II, the longest reigning pharaoh (1279 to 1212 BC). Variety of activities, including dances, are organised in conjunction with the vent.

However, most of the thousands of tourists who normally take part in the event stayed away this year because of the country's current political situation.

Egypt's air strikes in Libya and threats from the Islamic State group, which is in control of some regions in that country, have led to a drastic decline in the number of visitors.

On Sunday morning, only 2,500 people witnessed the rise of the sun. They included the governor of Aswan, a few hundred tourists and about 500 disabled youth from 23 different Egyptian provinces who came as part of a tour organised by the Minister of Youth and Sports.

Following Egypt's 2011 revolution, revenues from archaeological sites like Luxor, Cairo and Aswan have dropped by 95 per cent, the country's Antiquities minister said. Similarly, Red Sea resorts saw revenues drop by 54 per cent. Overall, tourism revenues dropped from US$ 400 in 2010 to just over US$ 16 million last year.

In view of the disastrous situation, all the usual celebrations in Abou Simbel have been cancelled this year, said the head of the local archaeological services, including the third International Aswan Festival for Culture and Arts, which is held every two years.

Everyone in the tourist sector is affected by the slump with many forced to seek alternative employment.

• egypt
• tourism
• islamic
• state
• terrorism
• lost
• revenues