Luxor Governorate
One-third of world's most valuable ancient monuments concentrate here—the Valley of the Kings rotates 8-10 open tombs to manage the 1-2 million visitors whose presence degrades what they came to see.
Luxor Governorate contains approximately one-third of the world's most valuable ancient monuments—a concentration of archaeological wealth unmatched globally. The Valley of the Kings alone holds 63+ discovered tombs where New Kingdom pharaohs were buried for 500 years. Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) remains the site's gravitational center; its 1922 discovery defined modern archaeology.
The Valley receives 1-2 million visitors annually—peak tourism from October to April. But visitor impact creates conservation crisis: carbon dioxide, friction, and humidity degrade paintings and reliefs. The Department of Antiquities responds with dehumidifiers, glass screens, and tomb rotation. Generally 8-10 tombs open at any time; standard tickets access only three.
A 2014 replica tomb, created by Madrid's Factum Arte for $2 million, attempts visitor redirection. The approach recognizes that tourism simultaneously funds preservation and destroys the asset being preserved. This paradox defines heritage site management worldwide, but Luxor's concentration intensifies the challenge.
Archaeological work continues: the 2019 discovery of a "golden city" near the Valley demonstrated that Luxor still conceals major finds. Ground-penetrating radar identifies promising excavation sites. The local economy depends heavily on tourism—visitors provide hard currency that Egypt desperately needs. This economic dependency ensures preservation funding but also creates pressure to maximize access that preservation requires limiting.