Shipwreck Tourism in João Pessoa: An opportunity based on the history of the Steamship Alice.

In tourism research, items such as beaches, gastronomy, infrastructure, and receptivity are evaluated and, in this context, shipwreck tourism is little explored or known about by tourists and the local population. Yet this form of tourism can provide an opportunity. This study aims to evaluate the opportunity of shipwreck tourism aroundthe wreck of the steamship Alice and specifically, to analyze the historical process of formation and appropriation of this wreck as a tourism attraction. This is a quantitative and qualitative study, with an exploratory and descriptive approach. It is organized into two parts, one theoretical and the other reporting the results of field research. The result consists of historical data on the sinking of the steamship Alice, and data obtained in the field research with tourists. It was seen the city of João Pessoa (PB) has important potential for the development of shipwreck tourism, due to its large number of shipwrecks, with the locations of approximately fifty-sixwrecks currently mapped, and also due to the interest of tourists in this form of tourism. It was verified that Shipwreck Tourism provides an opportunity for knowledge, innovation, and economic benefits.