Cairo: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and his accompanying delegation visited the 'Museum Park' in the city of Rashid, during his tour of Beheira governorate on Saturday. The Premier emphasized that the government attaches great importance to supporting and promoting tourism destinations across all governorates, particularly sites with a distinctive cultural and civilizational character that reflect Egypt's rich historical heritage.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Local Development Minister Manal Awad stated that the Museum Park in Rashid represents a unique model that combines the preservation and presentation of archaeological heritage within a cultural and aesthetic framework befitting the city's historical status as one of Egypt's most important heritage cities. Beheira Governor Jacqueline Azer highlighted the park as one of the governorate's most prominent cultural and tourism landmarks, embodying the rich history of Rashid across different eras.
Azer added that the park serves as an integrated model for heritage preservation and its use in supporting tourism and economic development, strengthening Rashid's position as a distinguished historical and cultural destination, while also contributing to the preservation of traditional crafts for future generations. The park is located in front of Rashid National Museum and is one of the city's oldest gardens, witnessing the museum's inauguration by the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser in September 1959.
The governor stated that the park supports tourism and cultural activity in the city by hosting heritage events that reflect Rashid's historical identity and traditional crafts passed down through generations. During the tour, Madbouly visited the 'handmade carpets and kilim project' pavilion. Governor Azer explained that the project is a successful model for preserving heritage crafts and supporting women's economic empowerment through training in handmade carpet and kilim production, as well as assisting in marketing these products.
Azer noted that Rashid carpets are among the city's most prominent traditional industries, distinguished by high-quality materials, precision design, and exceptional craftsmanship, making them competitive with Persian and Ajami carpets and comparable to the finest handmade carpets globally. She added that the project's expertise has extended to training women from other governorates, including North Sinai, reflecting the success and scalability of the initiative, while also improving participants' incomes and expanding marketing opportunities.
The Prime Minister also toured the handicrafts area, where the governor said the park includes several pavilions showcasing Rashid's traditional industries, including leather goods inspired by the city's visual identity and historical landmarks, palm-frond and wicker products, and pottery crafts. He listened to explanations from exhibitors and directed that all necessary support be provided to ensure proper marketing of their products.
Azer further noted that the park includes a 'storytelling' pavilion offering an interactive introduction to Rashid's heritage and crafts through educational materials and activities highlighting the city's cultural and historical assets. Madbouly wrote a commemorative note in the pavilion stating: 'Rashid is a wonderful city that needs to revive its heritage and become a destination for domestic and international tourism.' The Prime Minister also watched several folk art performances in the park and praised the quality and professionalism of the shows.