Highlighting The Cultural Richness of a Historical City With Cultural Routes: The Case of Erzurum City

Abstract

The study aims to classify various tourist attractions in the culturally rich city of Erzurum, creating cultural tourism routes with both tangible and intangible values. Within this scope, areas with high cultural value were identified, and 7 tourism classifications were made (Sports Tourism, Gastronomy Tourism, Art Tourism, Festival Tourism, Scientific Tourism, Fair Tourism, Religious and Holiday Tourism), and a cultural route was created for each class. Cultural routes based on tourism classifications were examined, taking into account their locations, route lengths, and usage durations. Seven different cultural route proposals were mapped and presented. Based on the obtained data, the longest routes were 24.7 km for Religious and Holiday Tourism route (including tombs, madrasahs, mosques, etc.), 23 km for Sports Tourism Route (including winter tourism areas, etc.) and Art Tourism Route (including cultural centers, museums, squares, etc.). The study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the city's history and culture by tourists through different routes. These routes will support cultural sustainability and contribute to sustainable development goals. Considering visitor satisfaction and public participation, the cultural routes established in this study can serve as a guide for future projects.