The Contribution of the Preservation and Sustainability of Cultural Heritage to the Regional Economy: the Case of Kars Ani Ruins
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Research Article 20-23 June 2021 The Contribution of the Preservation and Sustainability of Cultural Heritage to the Regional Economy: The Case of Kars Ani Ruins Işık Sezen*,1, Reyhan Reis2, Elif Akpinar Külekçi3, Serkan Özer4 1 Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Landscape Architecture, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey 2Institute of Science, Department of Landscape Architecture, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey 3 Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Landscape Architecture, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey 4 Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Landscape Architecture, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey Corresponding Author E-mail:[email protected] Corresponding Author ORCID: 0000-0003-0304-9072 Keywords Abstract Cultural heritage, Sustainability, Although cultural heritage is a general concept given to works created by previous Economic contribution, Ani ruins generations and believed to have universal values, it consists of all important values that remind societies and members of society of their common past and contribute to the dominance of feelings of unity and solidarity. The purpose of ensuring the sustainability of these values by preserving should be to protect the natural resource base on which future development will depend. In this context, it is concluded that the basis of reaching the future depends on the protection of existing resources. The essence of the definition of sustainability is not to endanger and compromise the needs of future generations while meeting our own needs in order to perpetuate human life. Therefore, this concept combines ecological, social and economic components together. The aim of this study is to determine the importance and economic contributions of preserving the Kars Ani Ruins, which is on the world cultural heritage list, and bringing it to the present day, to develop the sense of protecting the regional economy and the people living in the region. In this study, Phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research designs, was used and random sample selection was made. The structured interview form was used in selecting the data collection tool. Within the scope of the study, a literature review on cultural heritage, sustainability, economic contribution and Ani Ruins was conducted. A group focus meeting was held with eight people who live in Kars province and Ani Ruins and contribute to the tourists who participate in cultural tourism from the touristic products offered by the cultural heritage. With the recording of the interview form, the data and themes were coded and presented in tables. According to the results of the research; It has been observed that the income levels of the people of the region who protect their cultural heritage and values have increased. At the same time, the importance of the contribution of the preservation and sustainability of the cultural heritage to future generations was mentioned. It has been concluded that in order to meet the increase in demand in cultural tours, it is necessary to protect the cultural heritage and to ensure its sustainability. Although it is aimed to see historical places, artifacts, museums, ruins 1.Introduction of ancient civilizations in general, local food, local cuisine, music, It is seen that the trips made at the beginning of the tourism are not dance, environmental products, natural beauties, festivals and fairs for holiday purposes, and the first trips made for tourism purposes are among the original features of the travels (Toptaş 2020)[4]. are made with the feeling of seeing and learning unknown places. It By causing environmental problems as well as cultural values; is seen that the concept of cultural tourism was first used as a word in the European Commission in the 1980s to reveal cultural values Pollution of natural and cultural values, unlimited use, unplanned and cultural identities (Çulha 2008)[1]. Cultural tourism includes who construction, insufficient infrastructure, insufficient protection of a region, society or group is, how they live and what they eat, their historical and cultural values, increased luxury consumption due to natural resources, and seen as an inexhaustible economic resource. history, art, lifestyle and beliefs (Erdoğan 2020)[2]. These reasons have caused the natural environment to exceed its Culture Tourism; The increase in tourism demand is one of the most carrying capacity and put forward the necessity to explain the fact effective tools to protect the social and cultural values of the region, that natural resources are limited and can be exhausted if necessary as well as the sustainable features of the natural environment and to efforts are not made in terms of benefiting future generations from provide economic benefit to the people of the region. In addition to the blessings of sustainable history, natural resources and the natural features, the protection of historical and cultural assets is a environment. In order to include regions with intense cultural values service concept in which works of art, socio-economic and traditional in the sightseeing routes of cultural tours, the assets that are touristic values of the region are offered to tourists in the form of intriguing and valuable to buy must be presented to the tourism products (Saçılık and Toptaş 2017)[3]. market. Studies have shown that the demand for cultural values PACE 2021- Ataturk University, Engineering Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering, Erzurum, 25030, TURKEY 20-23 June 2021 1 Sezen et all. continues to increase every year (Uygar and Baykan 2007 [5]; Üstüner 2.3. Research Universe and Sample 2019 [6]). Interviews were held with eight people who continue their lives in Cultural heritage is the tangible and intangible values of the life Kars and Ani Ruins, which are on the route of cultural tours in the experience, mind and creativity of human beings for many years east and half east, and earn income with the products they offer to (Ünsal and Pulhan, 2012)[7]. One of the important aims of the cultural tours. The people who participated in the interviews were "Convention on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage", which determined as the sample of the research. was adopted by UNESCO in 2003 and to which Turkey was officially a party in 2006, is to raise awareness and awareness about the 2.4. Data Collection and Analysis importance of this heritage at local, national and international levels. Increasing awareness will make a significant contribution to the A focus group meeting was held with the people of Kars and the region sustainability of cultural values. in order to obtain data in the research. The purpose of the focus group interview refers to a special group type in terms of size, formation and The word sustainability comes from the Latin word "Sustinere" method. It is also to reveal people's feelings and thoughts about an "Sustainability". The definition of sustainability first came to the issue, idea, product or service (Kreuger and Casey 2009)[10]. Focus agenda in the conference organized by the United Nations in group interviews usually consist of groups of 5 or 8 people in the Stockholm in 1972 with the report "Limits of Growth". In this report, studies. In this study, the focus group interview was conducted in 2 the determination to act jointly in the international arena against sessions. In the study in which 8 participants were included in total, environmental problems has been shown and the date of the the "focus group information form" created by Krueger (1994)[11] and conference, June 5, has started to be celebrated as the World developed by Burcu (2002)[12] was used to obtain data. 8 open-ended Environment Day. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) questions were asked to the participants in a certain order. In was established on the subject and the Humanitarian Environment ordering the questions, Krueger's (1994)[11] study on ordering focus Declaration, which observes justice and emphasizes the socio- group interview questions was used. At the beginning of the economic development and the inseparability of the environment interview, participants were informed about the purpose and content from development, was adopted (Yıkmaz 2011)[8]. of the study. The data of the interview was recorded with a voice recording device. The obtained data were analyzed by content In the studies conducted, it states that the main purpose of analysis method. Content analysis aims to obtain some findings about sustainability is to protect the natural resource base on which future some dimensions and sections of the unknown, unknown social development will depend (Baker 2006). In this context, it is concluded reality, based on the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of the that the basis of reaching the future depends on the protection of texts available as a method. existing resources. The essence of the definition of sustainability is not to endanger and compromise the needs of future generations Table 1. Focus Group Information Form while meeting our own needs in order to perpetuate human life. Therefore, this concept integrates ecological, social and economic Focus Group Date 14.12.2020 components together. Focus Group Area / Kars Center- Ani Ruins Location The protection of cultural values makes important contributions to Number / Description 8, people residing in Kars and Ani the economy of the country and the region. All professions, of Entrepreneurs Focus Group Subject The sustainability of cultural heritage organizations and activities contribute to the economy. Economic and its contribution to the economy of contribution provides an increase in employment and business the region volume as well as an increase in income for the society. Tourism revenues are a sector whose economic returns are increasing every year due to its ability to positively affect national income, balance of Focus group study interview questions are listed as follows: payments, foreign currency income and employment. 1. Could you briefly introduce yourself? 2. Results and Discussions 2.