The Role of Participatory Tourism in Managing Abu Mena Archaeological Site in Mariout (Community Protection of Heritage): An Analytical Field Study

A contemporary development in sustainable tourism is participatory tourism, which promotes local people's active participation in management, planning, and decision-making. This strategy encourages reciprocal benefits between locals and tourists, fostering a sense of duty and belonging while also aiding in the preservation of natural and cultural resources. Additionally, via creative and practical means, participatory tourism is essential for the conservation of cultural and natural assets. Applying this paradigm to World cultural sites increases their significance since it requires striking a careful balance between addressing the demands of development and tourism and maintaining the sites' artistic value. Abu Mena, an ancient site in the Alexandria Governorate, is a great example of a World Heritage site that was placed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger due to a number of administrative and environmental issues. This research is noteworthy because it emphasizes the value of participatory tourism as a successful strategy for restoring the site and enhancing its administration by involving the local population, authorities, and tourists. This strategy helps the site remain sustainable and regain its importance on a worldwide scale. Due to administrative and environmental issues, including increasing groundwater levels and inadequate site management, the site was later placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger after being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The site was taken off the List of World Heritage in Danger as a consequence of this circumstance, which continued until all conservation standards were satisfied.