Evaluating virtual interfaces of archaeological sites : case study of the roman sites in Alexandria

Abstract EN

Purpose- This research aims to provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of existing virtual tours (VT) to induce a favorable attitude toward Alexandria's heritage sites, through the study of the VT of the three Roman sites in Alexandria, and assessing the user's sense of presence, experience and their effect on the attitude change towards the visited archeological sites and towards the Grӕco-Roman archeology in general.

Design- To collect the required data a self-administered online survey was used.

Methodology- The sampling frame included under-graduate students in the Faculty of Hotels and Tourism, Alexandria University.

Three identical questionnaires were designed, investigating the research variables.

Participants were asked to answer the questionnaire after performing a VT to the designated site provided to them by a link of the website.

Approach – A quantitative approach was used to examine the validation of the study hypotheses; SPSS V.

24 was used for data processing.

Findings- The study results supported the study hypotheses, showing that both presence and experience of the VT had an obvious effect on attitude of the visitors towards the visited heritage sites.

Originality- Despite the increasing importance of the VT of heritage sites, there are few recent studies which investigate the role of these VT on attitude change of the visitors.

None of these studies assessed the factors that affect their attitude particularly in the Grӕco-Roman sites of Alexandria.

Thus, this study gives an insight on the effect of both presence and experience of VT on attitude of the visitors.