An exact replica of King Tutankhamun’s tomb is being installed near the 3,000-year-old original version, in the West Bank of Luxor beside the home of Howard Carter, the legendary British Archaeologist who discovered the original tomb in 1922.

With the intention of preserving Egypt’s heritage, the Egyptian Government has signed a protocol with the “Society of Friends of the Royal Tombs of Egypt”, a Swiss-based heritage preservation group, to replicate Pharaonic sites of significance.  On this occasion, Tutankhamun facsimilie tomb, which has cost in excess of £410,000 to produce and will be the most accurate large-scale facsimilie to be made to date, has been created and funded by Spanish-Based firm ‘Factum Arte’ under the supervision of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquates.

To commemorate this significant point in history, and in celebration of the Swiss Society’s 25th anniversary, the inauguration, on 30 April, 2014, will be attended by several prominent figures including all Swiss Ambassadors to Egypt over the past 25 years, Egyptologists, key international experts in the tourism industry, and international media representatives. The facsimilie tomb will then be open to the public on 1 May, 2014.

Commenting on the inauguration, Omayma El Husseini, UK & Ireland Director, Egyptian Tourist Authority said, “Our heritage is something that gives Egypt its unique identity, preserving it through such projects is vitally important.  They also ensure visitors have the opportunity to experience Pharaonic sites of significance, allowing them to stay for longer periods to fully appreciate the importance and relevance such projects as King Tutankhamun’s tomb has in ancient history.”

The need for the facsimilie tomb has arisen due to the significant number of visitors Tutankhamun’s tomb has.  Having not been built to accommodate such numbers, it has begun to deteriorate. The facsimile tomb will ensure visitors have the opportunity to understand the history of the tomb, while at the same time allowing for conservation of the original site as part of an initiative to safeguard tombs of the Theban Necropolis.

Organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, Luxor Governorate, Egyptian Private Tourism Sector and the European Union Delegation in Egypt, and as a part of the project, a special visit will be arranged for key visitors to the Nefertari’s Tomb in the West Bank.  Revered as the most beautiful and famous of all queens’ tombs, the visit will offer an insight in to the restoration work carried out.