Sudan does not normally spring to mind as a holiday spot but the country, afflicted by years of conflict, is working to attract more tourists.
"There is a lot of potential … in spite of the negative image of Sudan," said Ali Mahgoub Atta Al Mannan, the undersecretary at Sudan's ministry of tourism, antiquities and wildlife.
Now more than ever, the country needs to develop its tourism industry as it loses vital oil revenues to the newly created South Sudan and is desperately trying to diversify its economy, industry insiders say.
Northern Sudan is trying to promote its archaeological sites, which include pyramids, and its Red Sea attractions, which include diving, and safaris in its national parks, Mr Al Mannan said. There are also opportunities to develop hotels along the Nile, he said.
The ministry has attended trade fairs around the world, including Berlin, London and Japan, as it tries to promote the destination to tour operators.
"We don't have big tourism companies," said Mahmoud Suliman Bashir, an archaeologist at the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum. "So we still have some problems. But we hope in the future we can do more to develop tourism in Sudan."
He said attractions included the UNESCO world heritage site of Gebel Barkal, while the island of Meroe was recognised as a world heritage site this month. Meroe is home to the ruins of an ancient royal city.
