Local resident opinion about the opportunities and challenges which will be effective at the development of cultural tourism in Bilecik City

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This article investigates local people s perceptions about the development of cultural tourism opportunities and challenges at the in the Bilecik city. In recent years, the groving interest to cultural tourism and the promotional effect of historical television series have caused development of cultural tourism at Bilecik city. The opinions of the local people are important in the success of the tourism development policies in a place. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the opinions of local people about the opportunities and challanges in the development of cultural tourism in Bilecik city. Thus, it is thought that the result of the study will contribute to appropriate form of tourism development the cultural and heritage characteristics of Bilecik city. The data were collected through questionnaires applied to local people. The questionnaires were applied 400 local residents who were selected by easy sampling method in April 2019. The participants have stated that Bilecik was one of the the land where the Ottoman state was first established, the existence of promotional series, important people tombs, traces of the Turkish War of Independence are main opportunities for the development of cultural tourism at Bilecik city. The most important challenges for the development of cultural tourism at Bilecik city, which have stated by the respondent, insufficient contemporary cultural tourism attractions and museums, shortcomings of the marketing and finance issue. Also as one of the leading challenges in the development of cultural tourism has been cited the lack of touristic qualification for traditional food and handicrafts. According to obtained result; in order to increase the volume of cultural tourism in Bilecik city; promotional activities, events such as festivals, concerts and so on should be increased. Also establishment a museum regarding silkworming, revitalization of handcrafts and local food would be appropriate for the development of cultural tourism.

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Tourism , heritage , culture , cultural tourism , Bilecik

Aegean Geographical Journal

86

Aegean Geographical Journal