Egypt just unveiled the first restaurant at the Great Pyramids ever as it doubles down on tourism to lure travelers back

• Egypt has added upgrades to its historical Great Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx tourist sites by opening a new restaurant and unveiling a fleet of electric buses amid the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported.
• The country started reporting monthly losses of tourism to about $1 billion following coronavirus-related shutdowns earlier this year.
• The new 9 Pyramids Lounge restaurant sits on a 14,434-square-foot plot of land with views of the pyramids.

Egypt has added a modern upgrades to its historic Great Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx tourist sites by opening a new restaurant and unveiling a fleet of electric buses amid the coronavirus pandemic that has tanked the country's tourism levels, Reuters reported.

According to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council released in June, of all the African countries, Egypt accounted for the majority of travel and tourism-related contributions to the region's GDP, totaling around $29.5 billion in 2019. It's therefore no surprise that the country started reporting monthly losses of about $1 billion following coronavirus-related shutdowns in March, according to a report by Reuters.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 9 Pyramids Lounge restaurant — which is a part of the country's efforts to develop around the famed tourist site— was officially unveiled on October 20 .

Tourists have already started visiting the restaurant, Egypt Independent reported.

Waiters and employees during the opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Source: Egypt Independent

The new 9 Pyramids Lounge sits on a 14,434-square foot plot of land with views of the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Waiters and employees during the opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Source: Reuters

The new establishment is open aired, according to Reuters ...

People in front of the Great Pyramids during the opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/File Photo

Source: Reuters

... and visitors can either be seated at tables or on cushions on the floor, according to photos on 9 Pyramids Lounge's Instagram account.

Police officers with face masks by the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Source: Instagram

A fleet of 30 electric buses designed to shuttle tourists around the historical site was also unveiled.

An electric bus by the Great Pyramids during the opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Source: Reuters

The interior of the environmentally friendly buses include screens that act as electronic tour guides, Reuters reported.

The electric bus for visitors during the opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Source: Reuters

These unveilings are just two of several upcoming projects that target tourists sites in Egypt.

A waiter during the opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

According to the secretary general of the supreme council of antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, in the Reuters report, the area has always seen issues related to the lack of "special services" — like restaurants — directed towards tourists.

The opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Source: Reuters

Other upcoming tourist-centered amenities include free WiFi, food trucks, a new visitors center, and public bathrooms, according to a report by the Lonely Planet.

A band plays during the opening 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Source: Lonely Planet

Next year, a museum dedicated to the history of ancient Egypt — the Grand Egyptian Museum — will open near the pyramids site.

Police officers with face masks during the opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

According to CNN, this will be the biggest museum dedicated to an ancient civilization ever built.

Police offers wearing face masks during the opening of the 9 Pyramids Lounge on October 20, 2020.      Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters/File Photo

Source: CNN