Rural Tourism and Vernacular Architecture: An Example from Elmalı, Antalya

Mutlu Danacı H., ATİK M.

ITW2013 International Tourism Week Conference Series V, Turkey, 1 - 04 April 2013, pp.191-196, (Full Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.191-196
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Rural tourism is a favourite and alternative tourism type in resent years regarding to sustainability and expressing different cultures and cultural heritage. Sustainable life styles such as agricultural in rural setting would help to conserve local cultures, support rural economy and most importantly provide alternative sources of income such as rural tourism for the livelihood of local people.

One of the ways for the conservation of rural cultural landscape and vernacular architecture is the protection of the natural and cultural values?? together to rural tourism for a vibrant economy. Here tourism product is based on the location of rural settings, character of local landscapes, local lifestyles and vernacular architecture created through interaction between local people and natural environment. Rural tourism has been regarded as main pillars of sustainable development in rural areas and an alternative for sustainable tourism.

Elmalı has a significant potential for rural tourism as an alternative region on the contrary of mass tourism developments and setting along coastal Antalya. Vernacular architecture in Elmalı is unique on account of its climatic characteristics, special the architectural elements of traditional life and land use patterns. For example, Vineyard houses and living of the ceremonies, picking of the grapes, and preparing of the special syrup as a called “pekmez” in the early autumn days. There is great potential for rural tourism in the region that tourists can lodge at vineyard houses, or sighting as a museum the vernacular millers and vernacular bee hive structures. Rural tourism can be a solution for the sustainable rural economic and traditional lifestyle for Elmalı and model for other regions in Antalya. Vibrant economy can provide to conservation of the vernacular architecture together with other cultural and natural heritage in the locality and support local population for long term sustainable development in the region.