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The Journey of the

Holy Family to Egypt

Reham Samir

Director of Egyptian

Tourist Office- Benelux

Utrecht , October 7th, 2016

The Power of Religious Tourism

• One of the most important and the fastest growing

segments in the travel Industry. ( UNWTO Figures:

300 million tourists visit the world’s major

religious sites each year)

• One of the most important sources of income in

many countries.

• Religious Tourism is more stable versus regular

tourism.

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What are the opportunities for

the Government of Egypt to

boost religious tourism?

• Egypt has played an important

role in the history of Christianity’s

Holy Family, as well as in the roots

of Judaism and Islam.

• There are many sites that are of

great significance to all of the

three major monotheistic religions,

such as; (Al Moalaka church 7th

century , Ibn Touloun Mosque

9th century, Saint Catherine

byzantine Monastery 6th century

– 2nd worldwide after Vatican to

host the most ancient Christian

manuscripts).

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Who is the first tourist visit

Egypt ?

Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and

stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young

Child to kill Him." ( Mattew 2:13)

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Map of the Holy Family Route

THE HOLY FAMILY AT EL-ZARANIK

AND FARMA

• El-Zaraniq, west of El-Arish

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The Holy Family At The Town of

Mostorod

Route of the Holy Family

Veil of the Sanctuary - Virgin Mary

Church, Belbeis Virgin Mary Church - Belbeis, Sharqiah.

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THE HOLY FAMILY AT SAKHA

TOWN

THE HOLY FAMILY AT WADI EL

NATROUN

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THE HOLY FAMILY AT MATAREYA &

AIN SHAMS & ZEITOUN THE HOLY

• THE HOLY FAMILY AT

ZEITOUN

St. Mary's Tree - Matariyah,

Cairo

THE HOLY FAMILY WITHIN

THE AREA OF OLD CAIRO

• IN CENTRAL CAIRO

The Church of the Virgin Mary in Zuweila Alley.

The Church of St George the Martyr.

The Church of St. Mercurios Abu Sefein (the Two Swords).

The Convent of the Virgin Mary.

The Convent of St George.

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Old Cairo An icon from the Church of Abu Sefein.

The Holy family in Maadi

.

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Minia

Viel of Sanctuary - El Barsha Monastery

Church - Minia

Assiut • Virgin Mary

Monastery - Gabal

(Mount) Dronka.

An icon at the Virgin Mary Monastery -

Gabal Dronka.

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Efforts Taken to introduce

Religious Tourism

• Establishing a committee that responsible for touring the sites

on the route to investigate whether they are accessible or not,

whether there are enough facilities for tourists, whether the

number of hotels is adequate. It is on that basis that we decide

which sites should be put on the official itinerary, and to make

sure that these sites meet the expectations of the customer.

• Several restorations and conservation works at some of the

most significant historical landmarks related to the route of the

Holy Family in Egypt was conducted.

Efforts Taken to Introduce

Religious Tourism

• Holy Family Route, have been launched on October

21st, 2014.

• A new brochure describing the route taken by the Holy

Family has been published by the Ministry of Tourism,

with the approval of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and

it has already been translated into several languages.

• The proposed trip, which will take from 5-7 days, will

follow the path where the Holy Family reportedly

traveled to.

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Efforts Taken to Introduce

Religious Tourism

• Training sessions will be hold for priests in churches

and monasteries as part of the program to prepare

them for tourists.

• The ministry will coordinate with the Egyptian

General Tourist Guide Syndicate to update the

information and references related to the Christian

shrines that the Holy Family visited.

Thank You