Tourism up 5.5%

Egypt State Information Service

Abu Simbel city is getting ready to receive thousands of tourists who will converge on its temple in the next few days to watch the perpendicular sunrays illuminate the face of the statue of ancient king of Egypt, Ramses II on Monday.

Authorities in the governorate of Aswan, Upper Egypt, set up giant screens so that tourists outside the temple could also see the picturesque phenomenon.

The sun falls on Egypt's renowned Pharaoh twice a year, on February 22, the date of his birth, and on October 22, the date of his accession to the throne of Egypt.