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The main objective of the New Hermopolis is to develop middle Egypt, economically and culturally, through the active promotion of both conventional and alternative forms of tourism. |
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The New Hermopolis will endeavour to maintain its autonomy and independence. However, links and associations will be made with several institutions and organisations nationally and internationally to serve the common good and help the project to be established and achieve its goals. Links will be made with the Minia Governorate in Egypt, the Ministry of Culture the Higher Council of Antiquities and the Higher Council of Arts in Egypt. There will be liaison with other independent bodies (NGO’s) in Egypt will be encouraged, particularly those concerned with educational aspects, arts and heritage preservation. |
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Aims of the project |
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 Tourism for development
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The area of Mallawi, where the ancient Hermopolis and the majority of the antiquities lie, lacks in basic tourist facilities including the absence of any hotels or other form of tourist accommodation. The hotels that serve tourists at present are only 2-3 hotels of limited capacity in the city of Minia itself, i.e. about 30 km from Mallowi. This means that even conventional tourist sites such as El-Amarna or Bani Hassan are rarely visited. |
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Conventional & alternative tourism within Middle Egypt : |
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 Writers / thinkers in residence: the new Hermoplis retreat
Tours of Mallawi antiquities: El Amarna, El Ashmunin & Tuna El Gebel, Deir El Bersha, Bani Hassan and Antinopolis.
Tours of other antiquities within the region: Assiut-Lykopolis (80km), Akhmim-Panopolis (50km) and El-Bahnsa- Oxyrincus (100km).
Tours to sites of conceptual significance in ancient times in the region:
The Hermopolis, Abydos and Dendra.
Tours to Monastic sites in the region: Deir El Bersha, Deir Abu Hinnes, Deir Abu Fana, Deir El Mahraqa and red & white monastry. |
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Alternative tourism within Egypt at large : |
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Tours to ancient cities of learning: to include the Hermopolis,Alexandria and Saqqara.
Specialist tours to medical historians: Hermopolis, Saqarra, and Kasr El Agouz in Luxor as well as sites connected with the cult of Imhotep.
Desert tours: Hermopolis, El Bahria, El Farafra, El Dakhla and Kharga.
Tours to the Hermopolis with extensions to Hurghada in the Red Sea. |
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Alternative Multicentre World Holidays : |
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Ancient spiritual cities, ancient cities of learning and language development centres in Greece, Italy, Syria Iran and Turkey. |
Provision of a major educational and ‘cultural’ centre in middle Egypt: |
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The project aims to revive and preserve Egypt’s ancient philosophy / literature and link it with modern thought in Egypt, and the world at large. The tourist complex of the new Hermopolis is meant to be part and parcel of a larger cultural village that aims towards advancement of learning and education of local children and youth in the region as well as fostering local literary talent.
A library is planned to be housed in Taha Hussain’s small house on the site of Tuna El Gebel which is planned to be converted to a “Taha Hussain museum”. Taha Hussain who was born in the region is a major literary figure and considered to be the most important architect of modern Egyptian culture.
Effective links are planned with other major cultural resources in the area such as the local archaeological project at El Amarna and the new Akhenaton museum with its planned conference facilities (under construction). This facility could be used in the future to organise and host national and international literary courses, workshops and conferences in this respect.
On the international front, links are planned with Egyptological institutions and museums that house Egyptian antiquities throughout the world. Some links already exist with the British and the Petrie museums in London, UK. |
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