Sustainability in cultural tourism and heritage conservation in the case of vernacular houses in diyarbakir, turkey

Abstract

Cultural tourism, an important component of sustainable tourism, has gained national and international recognition in recent years. Turkey, with its geographic and cultural heritage, universal cultural and natural values, and rich opportunities for visitors, has great potential for growth in cultural tourism. However, although cultural heritage is an important part of sustainable tourism, it also brings about the problem of how best to preserve cultural heritage. Vernacular, houses, which are a part of this heritage, face problems in the modern world. The changes in traditional houses caused by loss of function, as well as by changes in the social and physical environment, constitute serious problems for the survival of Turkey’s cultural heritage for the future. One way to conserve vernacular houses is to achieve sustainable habitation and provide modern, comfortable conditions for the users of these houses through cultural tourism. This paper examines the historical town of Diyarbakır, detailing the design criteria of its houses in planimetric and elevational order. Factors affecting design, including climate, social and urban structure, construction, and materials, are also considered. This article aims to create a vision for the future by examining the conservation and sustainability of cultural and natural values through cultural tourism. Vernacular houses in Diyarbakır that have been adaptively reused for cultural tourism were investigated through the lens of heritage conservation and sustainable cultural tourism.