Assessment of Isparta Festivals within Cultural Tourism and Economy

Isparta is an area with suitable properties for local activities of celebration in terms of its climate, history and culture. With the use of cultural heritage, different activities of celebration and different cultural occasions have been formed in this area. After the 1980’s, the local governments have organised festivals by creating local images with a local crop, a historical event or a historical person supposed to have lived in the area. The expressions of culture, culture-art and culture-tourism have been used for the content expansion of the festivals. One of the most suitable opportunities to put trade activities into practice is the local feasts. The celebrations believed to contribute to the local economy as well as to the cultural tourism have been marketed by the local agricultural and animal products each being made a local image, thus creating local development. Speaking of Isparta, which is supported by UNESCO Cultural Heritage Conventions and Historical Towns Union, it is seen that the formation of image-centred local brands has been given special importance within cultural tourism and economy.