Mystery of Sunken Antiquities and its Effect in Promoting Tourism in Egypt: Case Study Alexandria Governorate-

Abstract

Alexandria is characterized by many tourist attractions such as Qaitbay Castle, The library of Alexandria, the Sawari Column, the Burial chambers of Kom Al-Shoqafa, the Roman Amphitheater, the Temple of El-Ras El-soda, in addition to the sites of sunken antiquities...etc. that lead to the revitalization of the tourist movement in the city. In general, the beaches of Alexandria, particularly Abu Qir Bay and the Eastern Port area, are filled with treasures of sunken antiquities that have been sunk by natural phenomena for 15 centuries, particularly earthquakes that have thrown many of Alexandria’s buildings, palaces, and castles into the sea. Sunken Antiquities in Alexandria are located in eight sites which are the area of Qaitbay, the eastern port and outside the eastern port to Sidi Bishr Beach, the Area of Abu Qir Bay, the site of Nelson Island, and the location of the western port. The main data collection method involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews with government officials and expert divers at main diving centers in Alexandria, and second phase involved three focus groups with tourism companies’ managers. The paper recommends that the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in cooperation with The Center for Sunken Marine Antiquities in Alexandria should disseminate the archaeological awareness of marine antiquities and how to preserve them in schools, through the presentation of movies about sunken antiquities, and models simulations.