This picture taken on Oct 20, 2020 shows a general view of (right to left) the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure at the Giza Pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo during an official ceremony launching the trial operations of the site's first environmentally-friendly electric bus and restaurant as part of a wider development plan at the necropolis. (KHALED DESOUKI / AFP)

CAIRO - Egypt has unveiled new visitor facilities on the plateau outside Cairo where the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx are situated, the country’s most visited heritage site and the sole remaining wonder of the ancient world.

The new facilities are all easily taken part and reassembled so as to protect the antiquities and the open-air restaurant offered “a panorama view that cannot be matched anywhere in the world,” said Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities

Developers late on Tuesday night opened a new restaurant, “9 Pyramids Lounge”, which covers an area of 1,341 square meters and overlooks the Giza pyramids. There will also be a fleet of new environmentally-friendly buses to guide tourists around the plateau.

“One of the problems always faced is that people say there are no special services for tourists, that there is no cafeteria, no restaurant, nothing that can be offered to visitors,” said Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

The new facilities are all easily taken part and reassembled so as to protect the antiquities and Waziri said the open-air restaurant offered “a panorama view that cannot be matched anywhere in the world.”

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This picture taken on Oct 20, 2020 shows a general view of (background right to left) the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Khafre at the Giza Pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo during an official ceremony launching the trial operations of the site's first environmentally-friendly electric bus (foreground) and restaurant as part of a wider development plan at the necropolis. (KHALED DESOUKI / AFP)

Tourism accounts for up to 15 percent of Egypt’s national output. However, officials have said previously the sector is losing around US$1 billion each month after largely shutting down for several months from March due to the spread of coronavirus.

The changes at the plateau are part of wider efforts to develop key tourist sites in the country. Next year the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is set to be the world’s largest archaeological museum, is due to open just beyond the Giza Pyramids.

Egyptian business tycoon Naguib Sawiris, the plateau’s main developer, said the 301 million Egyptian pound (US$19.23 million) project is part of a greater plan to develop the UNESCO world heritage site and streamline tourists’ experience.

“We will organise the salespeople,” said Sawiris. “We will not deprive them of their income but we will put them into suitable, nice places.”

A woman poses for a picture as a policeman watches while sitting by along a promontory looking onto the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Khafre at the Giza Pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo on Oct 20, 2020 during an official ceremony launching the trial operations of the site's first environmentally-friendly electric bus and restaurant as part of a wider development plan at the necropolis. (KHALED DESOUKI / AFP)