I had made it a rule that people could take pictures in the Cairo Museum as long as they did not use flash, but when I went into the Museum, I saw that there were camera flashes everywhere. I had to change the rule so no one can use a camera inside the Museum.

 

This also became a problem in the Valley of the Kings. I learned that the tombs in the Valley of the Kings will be completely destroyed if people continue to use flash inside the tombs. Even though we had allowed people to take pictures in the Valley, people continued to bribe the guards and take cameras into the tombs and use flash. So I made a decree that people could not bring cameras into the tombs. If 20 tourists would disobey this rule and use flash in the tombs, they could be damaged. When I made this rule, many tour guides were upset, but it is their job to help preserve the monuments of Egypt. Tourists are still able to take pictures in the temples, such as Karnak and Luxor Temple, but now people cannot bring their cameras into the Valley of the Kings, because then some will take pictures in the tombs. Another danger posed to the tombs is people who bring their bags into the tombs, because if they are not careful, they could scrape the walls. This is why I am planning to create a replica Valley next to the Carter Rest House, with reproductions of the tombs of Seti I, Tutankhamun and Nefertari. This way, people will be able to experience these amazing tombs while still preserving the original.

 

I received an email from Robin Young, the director of the Orange County chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), with her code of conduct for tourists who travel with ARCE to Egypt. The code of conduct has guidelines for how to act around the monuments and what to do or not to do. It is good to prepare tourists before they come to the country, about how to protect the monuments. My goal is for everyone to help conserve and protect the monuments for future generations. This is the most important thing, because the monuments of Egypt belong to the world. I hope that all groups of tourists will follow the example of Ms. Young and prepare how they will treat the monuments with respect and save them.