Egypt and Lebanon offer free entry to tourist sites - in pictures

Visitors flock to well-known heritage sites and museums to mark World Tourism Day

Tourists visit the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, in Giza, Egypt, on World Tourism Day 27 September 2022. Egypt has opened its museums and archaeological sites for free visits on the occasion of World Tourism Day and the 200th anniversary of Egyptology. The United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) celebrates World Tourism Day since 1980 with this year's theme being 'Rethinking Tourism' aimed at putting people at the center of key discussions on where Tourism was going. 'Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It employs one in every ten people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more. For some countries, it can represent over 20 percent of their GDP', the UNWTO says on their website. EPA / KHALED ELFIQI

The promotion also marks 200 years of research into ancient Egypt. EPA

The UN World Tourism Organisation has celebrated World Tourism Day since 1980. EPA

This year's theme is Rethinking Tourism. AP

The aim of the event, organisers say, is to put people at the centre of important discussions on where tourism is going. EPA

'Tourism is one of the world's most important economic sectors,' the UN says. EPA

The UN said tourism 'employs one in every 10 people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more'. EPA

For some countries, tourism can represent more than 20 per cent of their GDP. Reuters

Lebanon is allowing people to visit the National Museum for free. EPA

The National Museum in Beirut is the country's principal museum of archaeology. EPA

People will be able to enjoy the museum, which was officially opened in 1942. EPA

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