Cittaslow Cities and Tourism Governance: The Case of Isparta

Abstract

With the increasing globalization of world cities and the increase in metropolitan city life, the similarity of cities has revealed the 'slow city' movement. The aim of the slow city movement is to protect the originality and local values of the cities, to highlight them in the most accurate way and to ensure sustainability. This movement is away from the complex city life where the traffic is heavy and the city noise is high; It has been very popular in recent years by people who want to return to a calmer, natural lifestyle. The aim of the study is to compare the places that adopt the slow city movement with the implementation and tourism policies and compare them with the governance dimension. Although it is important that public institutions and organizations and NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations) act in cooperation in order to prevent difficulties in fulfilling the criteria required for a slow city, this cooperation is possible with "tourism governance". In this study, a comparative analysis was made between the quiet cities of Isparta, Eğirdir and Yalvaç. In the study, the data obtained as a result of the use of qualitative research method were collected with the use of interview technique. Convenience sampling method and semi-structured interview technique were used in the research. As a result of the study, it was seen that the awareness of the people about preserving their culture, local food, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, history and natural beauties increased after the districts became slow cities. It can be said that it is very important for the public sector, private sector and non-governmental organizations to work in cooperation within the scope of tourism governance in order to ensure the continuity of the slow city criteria.