Egypt Aims to Capitalize on Submerged Antiquities in Abu Qir Bay

Strategic Insights -

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has directed officials to develop a comprehensive plan to harness the tourism potential of Alexandria's underwater antiquities in Abu Qir Bay. A recent meeting brought together top officials and experts to discuss two primary approaches: extracting select artefacts for museum exhibition or establishing underwater sites for guided tourist diving. The initiative aims to strengthen Egypt's tourism sector, which Madbouly describes as a promising pillar of the national economy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has instructed officials to develop a comprehensive plan to capitalize on Alexandria's submerged antiquities in Abu Qir Bay, focusing on turning them into a major tourism attraction.
  • The plan involves two primary approaches: extracting select artefacts for museum exhibition or establishing underwater sites for guided tourist diving.
  • Key stakeholders involved in the meeting include Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy, Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled, and Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary-General Mohamed Ismail.
  • Madbouly emphasized the strategic potential of underwater heritage in Abu Qir Bay to strengthen Egypt's tourism sector and encouraged exploration of international models.
  • SCA Secretary-General Ismail briefed the attendees on ongoing efforts with UNESCO and other partners to assess the viability of an underwater museum and discussed the council's protocols for managing submerged antiquities.
  • Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled proposed leveraging partnerships with international archaeological missions and suggested displaying artefacts in tourist-friendly locations to enrich Alexandria's cultural offerings.
  • Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy reaffirmed his ministry's commitment to preserving Abu Qir's submerged artefacts and acknowledged the efforts of the SCA.
  • The Prime Minister instructed the relevant bodies to compile a detailed inventory of artefacts deemed suitable for museum display and to propose a development plan for underwater tourist sites within one month.
  • A comprehensive vision for the initiatives must be presented by the Tourism and Antiquities Minister in accordance with national and UNESCO guidelines.

Statistics:

  • The initiative aims to strengthen Egypt's tourism sector, which Madbouly describes as a promising pillar of the national economy.
  • No specific time frame is provided for the implementation of the plan.
  • The feasibility and preservation aspects of the project will be studied in line with global standards.
  • Ongoing efforts with UNESCO and other partners aim to assess the viability of an underwater museum.

Sources:

  • 2024 Daily News Egypt. "PM Madbouly directs officials to develop a plan to capitalize on Alexandria's underwater antiquities"