A controversial tourism development plan aims to transform Luxor into the biggest vast open-air museum. The master plan envisions new roads, five-star hotels, glitzy shops, and an IMAX theatre. The main attraction is an 11 million dollar project to unearth and restore the long Avenue of Sphinxes that once linked Luxor and Karnak temples. The ancient processional road was built by the pharaoh Amenhotep III and took its final form under Nectanebo I in 400 BCE. Over a thousand sphinx statues lined the road now being excavated which was covered by silt, homes, mosques and churches. Excavation started around 2004.
a cOntRoVeRSial tourIsm DevelopmEnt plaN aiMs tO TRAnsForm lUxor into tHe Biggest vASt open-AiR MUsEUm. the Master pLan enviSionS new roadS, fivE-sTaR hOtels, GLItZy ShopS, AnD an Imax thEatre. tHE maiN aTtRAcTIon iS aN 11 milliOn doLLAr projeCt tO uNearth aND restore the lonG AveNue Of sPhiNxes tHAt once linked luxor and kaRNaK temPLes. the aNciENt proCEssiONal roaD wAs buiLt bY the PhARaoh amenhotEp iiI ANd tooK its Final form uNDEr nEcTaNebo I In 400 bce. oVeR A thousand sphinx Statues Lined the roaD now bEINg EXCAvATed wHicH was coveRed by silt, hoMes, Mosques anD ChURches. EXcaVaTiOn StArteD AroUnd 2004.