One of Egypt’s most significant royal tombs has reopened to the public after more than 20 years of restoration, marking a major milestone in the country’s cultural preservation efforts and tourism revival.

The tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, located in the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, welcomed visitors again on Saturday. Amenhotep III, who ruled between 1390 and 1350 BC, presided over a golden age of prosperity, diplomacy, and artistic achievement in ancient Egypt.

Originally discovered in 1799 and later rediscovered in 1915 by famed archaeologist Howard Carter, the tomb was found empty, with even the sarcophagus missing—except for its lid, which had been shattered into over 200 fragments.

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, confirmed the tomb had been looted prior to its rediscovery.

The restoration, led by a Japanese archaeological team with support from UNESCO, focused on preserving the tomb’s intricate wall paintings, which depict Amenhotep III and his wife Tiye. Experts have described the artwork as among the most exquisite surviving examples from the Eighteenth Dynasty.

The reopening comes just weeks ahead of the highly anticipated inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids, part of a broader strategy to boost cultural tourism—a vital source of foreign currency for Egypt.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi said the sector is showing strong recovery, with growth rates exceeding 20 percent. He credited the rebound to improved stability and strategic positioning amid regional unrest.

Tourism in Egypt has faced setbacks since the 2011 uprising and more recently due to the Israel-Gaza conflict. However, the government is banking on its rich pharaonic heritage to attract global visitors and restore confidence in the sector.

The reopening of Amenhotep III’s tomb is expected to draw renewed interest from historians, archaeologists, and tourists alike, reinforcing Egypt’s status as a premier destination for cultural exploration.