Understanding Impacts of Cultural Tourism on Sustainability of Rural Architecture in Three Villages of Bursa

Abstract

This paper aims to describe consequences of cultural tourism for sustainability of rural architectural heritage, forming traditional identity of three villages, named as Misi, Gölyazı, and Tirilye, in Bursa. Before making a detailed assessment, it is better to give brief information about legalization concerning relation in between tourism and rural architectural heritage. Afterwards, the common values of selected case studies are given while also evaluating the problems and threats on their sustainability. It concludes with recommendations defining what can be done to conserve and reuse rural architectural heritage in villages of a historic city while preventing and improving them against touristic demands. Hence, this study is essential as investigating the challenges in conservation of rural areas in City of Bursa, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) in Turkey, while revealing rise of touristic activities together with increasing interest and public awareness in its architectural and natural heritage.