• A woman prepares to bake bread to sell to tourists at Saqqara village, near Giza, Egypt.
    A woman prepares to bake bread to sell to tourists at Saqqara village, near Giza, Egypt.
  • Villagers seek to improve their living conditions by selling food to visitors to the nearby pyramids.
    Villagers seek to improve their living conditions by selling food to visitors to the nearby pyramids.
  • An outdoor dining area where tourists are served food prepared by residents. The Saqarra area is renowned for its vast, ancient burial ground of Egyptian royals.
    An outdoor dining area where tourists are served food prepared by residents. The Saqarra area is renowned for its vast, ancient burial ground of Egyptian royals.
  • A woman bakes bread to sell to tourists coming to Saqqara, near Giza. Saqqara has the oldest known complete stone building complex, the Pyramid of Djoser, which was built 4,700 years ago.
    A woman bakes bread to sell to tourists coming to Saqqara, near Giza. Saqqara has the oldest known complete stone building complex, the Pyramid of Djoser, which was built 4,700 years ago.
  • A villager cooks for tourists at Saqqara. The area also contains pyramids built for another 16 Egyptian kings.
    A villager cooks for tourists at Saqqara. The area also contains pyramids built for another 16 Egyptian kings.
  • Saqqara residents carry food to sell to holidaymakers. The Covid-19 pandemic left Egypt's tourist industry struggling, reducing villagers' incomes.
    Saqqara residents carry food to sell to holidaymakers. The Covid-19 pandemic left Egypt's tourist industry struggling, reducing villagers' incomes.
  • Tourists sit down to a meal made by Saqqara residents. Egypt forecast 15 million tourists last year, but numbers barely reached 3.5 million.
    Tourists sit down to a meal made by Saqqara residents. Egypt forecast 15 million tourists last year, but numbers barely reached 3.5 million.
  • Tourists sample dishes prepared by Saqqara residents. At one point last year, the Egyptian tourist industry was reportedly losing $1 billion a week.
    Tourists sample dishes prepared by Saqqara residents. At one point last year, the Egyptian tourist industry was reportedly losing $1 billion a week.
  • Holidaymakers leave after eating a meal made by residents of Saqqara. The Egyptian government is hoping that visitor numbers will bounce back.
    Holidaymakers leave after eating a meal made by residents of Saqqara. The Egyptian government is hoping that visitor numbers will bounce back.

MENA

Saqqara villagers' meals for tourists - in pictures

Locals prepare food for visitors to the nearby pyramids at Giza

The National

May 24, 2021

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Egypt