EXAMINATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ARCHITECTURAL BUILDINGS IN FAITH TOURISM THROUGH ŞÜCÂÜDDİN VELÎ MEMORIAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Şücâüddin Velî Complex, located in Arslanbeyli village within the borders of Eskişehir province, is an important historical structure that embodied the identity of Şücâüddin Velî and should be transferred to future generations. The architectural preservation of Şücâüddin Velî Complex has been ensured, but it has not reached a sufficient level of awareness. Thus, there was a need to increase the awareness of the Şücâüddin Velî Complex which is an architectural heritage, by protecting it. Within this study, it is aimed to increase the number of visitors by investigating the role played by the activities in increasing the awareness of our cultural heritage, and to ensure the sustainability by bringing the Şücâüddin Velî Complex, where we see the reflections of Şücâüddin Velî’s identity and Alevi-Bektashi faith integrity, to faith tourism. At this point, commemoration events or festivals, which are seen as a tool in terms of tourism, are a factor in promoting the region, increasing the awareness of Şücâüddin Velî’s identity and ensuring the continuity of Şücâüddin Velî complex. Şücâüddin Velî Commemoration Events are held as a way to know, commemorate and explain Şücâüddin Velî, but also to lay the groundwork for faith tourism. The increase in the number of visitors with the commemoration event will affect the Seyyid Battalgazi Complex, Üryan Baba Tomb and Himmet Baba Tomb in its immediate vicinity, and will ensure the formation of faith tourism. In the study, literature review and observation were determined as the methods, and the SWOT analysis prepared is also the source of the research. The identity of Şücâüddin Velî has a deep-rooted and unchanging history that has reached large masses within the Alevi faith. Şücâüddin Velî Complex, which concretely reveals the identity of Şücâüddin Velî integrated with this belief, has the potential to increase the number of visitors with the effect of the events and belief factor, and the Alevi- Bektashi belief. In this research, the religious tourism potential of the Complex was revealed within the scope of the activities and it was reached that the number of visitors would increase when the social awareness of the Complex is awakened. The awareness of the complex will increase by use of various agents, such as social media, written sources i.e. magazines, posters, books, billboards, VR-AR applications and holograms. When the number of visitors is increased through such endeavours, the building will be preserved and entrusted to the future