CULTURAL HERITAGE IN TOURISM

TOİ169

Course Code: TOİ169
Semester: -
Theory+Practice: 3 + 0
ECTS: 4

Course Type

Elective Course

Course Level

Associate Degree

Year of Study

Semester

ECTS

Name of Lecturer(s)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

Explains the concept of cultural heritage (tangible and intangible), UNESCO preservation criteria, and the historical development of these values in the global tourism industry.
Analyzes the role of archaeological sites, museums, and historical settlements in creating destination identity from sociological and economic perspectives.
Critically evaluates the socio-cultural impacts of heritage tourism on host communities within the context of cultural commodification and authenticity concepts.
Develops ethical strategies that ensure the balance of conservation and utilization in the management of historical and cultural sites, considering carrying capacity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Designs innovative, accessible, and proactive heritage tourism routes for tourist profiles with different expectations by using digital interpretation tools (virtual reality, digital storytelling, etc.).

Mode of Delivery

Face to face

Prerequisites

Recommended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Description

This course addresses the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, its management within the framework of UNESCO criteria, and its transformation into a sustainable tourism supply using scientific principles. Aligned with the course learning outcomes, students acquire the skills to act in accordance with sustainability principles in the context of cultural heritage preservation by evaluating the socio-cultural impacts of tourism and to interpret tourism and cultural phenomena by synthesizing them through an interdisciplinary approach.

Course Contents

WEEK	TOPICS
1^st Week	Introduction to Cultural Heritage: Basic Concepts, Tangible & Intangible Heritage
2^nd Week	UNESCO, World Heritage List, and International Conservation Policies
3^rd Week	Tourism and Cultural Heritage Relationship: The Past as an Attraction
4^th Week	Authenticity and Cultural Commodification in Heritage Tourism
5^th Week	Intangible Cultural Heritage Tourism: Festivals, Traditions, Gastronomy
6^th Week	Tourism Management of Archaeological Sites and Ancient Cities
7^th Week	Museology in Tourism: Transition from Traditional to Living Museums
8^th Week	Midterm Exam
9^th Week	Interpretation and Storytelling in Cultural Heritage Sites
10^th Week	Management of Cultural Routes, Silk Road, and Religious (Sacred Site) Tourism
11^th Week	Heritage Tourism Marketing, Destination Image, and Branding
12^th Week	Digitalization in Heritage Sites: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
13^th Week	Sustainable Heritage Tourism: Conservation-Use Balance and Carrying Capacity
14^th Week	Dissonant Heritage, Dark Tourism, and Ethical Debates

Recommended or Required Reading

Books:
Timothy, D. J., & Boyd, S. W. (2025). Tourism and trails: Cultural, ecological and management issues (2nd ed.). Channel View Publications.
du Cros, H., & McKercher, B. (2020). Cultural tourism (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Smith, M. K. (2016). Issues in cultural tourism studies (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Articles:
Rasoolimanesh, S. M., Ramatah, C., & Jaafar, M. (2023). Heritage tourism and sustainable development goals: A systematic review. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 18(1), 1?18.
Gravari-Barbas, M. (2024). World Heritage and tourism: From opposition to coproduction. Annals of Tourism Research, 104, 103701.

Batman, O., & Çifçi, H. (Eds.). (2022). Sürdürülebilir Kültürel Miras Yönetimi ve Turizm. Detay Yayıncılık.
Çakır, G., & Çakır, A. (2021). Kültürel Miras ve Turizm: Teori ve Uygulama. Paradigma Akademi Yayınları.
Altunöz, Ö. (2020). Kültürel Miras ve Turizm. Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.
Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı. (2024). Türkiye Kültür Turizmi Stratejisi Raporu. Ankara.
UNESCO Türkiye Milli Komisyonu. (2023). Dünya Mirası Listesi ve Türkiye. [Erişim adresi: unesco.org.tr]

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture
Discussion
Questions/Answers
Presentation
Case Study

Assessment Methods and Criteria

	Quantity	Percentage (%)
Mid-term	1	40
Assignment	1	10
Total(%)		50
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)		50
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)		50
Total(%)		100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam	1	1	1
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work	14	3	42
Preparation for Final exam	1	17	17
Course hours	14	3	42
Preparation for Midterm exam	1	17	17
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam	1	1	1
Homework
Total Work Load			120
Total Work Load / 30 (h)			4
ECTS Credit of the Course			4

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Work Placement(s)

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

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