Abstract
Focusing on both physical and virtual accessibility, this paper presents the methodology developed by MeDryDive for the selection of AUCHS (Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites) in Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro. MeDryDive is a project that aims at the promotion of AUCHS in the Mediterranean as distinctive tourism destinations through personalized dry dive experiences. The candidate sites are assessed in order to be included in the transnational thematic tourism product “Dive in the Past” and promoted through Creative and Cultural Industry (CCI) applications, including a Serious Game, Augmented and Virtual Reality applications, and promotional videos, all developed in the context of the project. The main goal of the methodology is to meet the requirements for both the sustainability of the thematic tourism product and the digital applications’ development. The assessment of AUCHS is based on specific criteria that result from setting weighing factors and classifying indicators as either critical or non-critical. The criteria are categorized into core (feasibility) criteria and complementary (appropriateness) criteria for determining the total level of readiness. This set of criteria enables site selection through an elimination method, identifying the suitable pilot and follow-on sites for the integration of digital technologies into the tourism offering.
Highlights
The responsible, non-intrusive accessibility and promotion of the Underwater CulturalHeritage (UCH), according to the UNESCO Convention of 2001 [1,2], contributes significantly to its protection, in the sense that cultural remains help preserve human inheritance for future generations
UNESCO [2] supports the responsible promotion of Underwater CulturalHeritage (UCH) for tourism development purposes, provided that the protection and management of the site is ensured in a responsible way
The methodology for the selection of accessible underwater cultural heritage sites (AUCHS) for the design of a thematic tourism product integrating Creative and Cultural Industry (CCI) applications was built upon indicators that defined the selection criteria
Summary
The responsible, non-intrusive accessibility and promotion of the Underwater CulturalHeritage (UCH), according to the UNESCO Convention of 2001 [1,2], contributes significantly to its protection, in the sense that cultural remains help preserve human inheritance for future generations. When developing strategies for the promotion of UCH, it is crucial to valorize the underwater cultural assets in a responsible way and raise public awareness about their value and need for their protection [4]. The number of divers worldwide reaches more than 28 million, and there are over 128 thousand PADI members in more than 186 countries and regions around the world [8], while in Europe alone there are over 3.5 million divers. These numbers indicate a high interest in diving tourism, which is a driver for the development of alternative services in the diving tourism sector. Such developments can favor the promotion of UCH and enhance sustainable tourism development in coastal or island tourism destinations [9]
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