Festivals, community development and sustainable tourism in the Karpaz region of Northern Cyprus

Gunsoy, Esra; Hannam, Kevin

Abstract

The organization of festivals has recently been emphasized in the Karpaz region of Northern Cyprus as a strategy for sustainable tourism development. Hence, this paper explores the relationship between festivals, community development and sustainable tourism in this region. A multi-method qualitative research approach was used. The study found that community-oriented festivals aim to function primarily as a tool for community development through sustaining a socially constructed sense of social identity and preserving the so called ‘Cypriot’ cultural values. However, these festivals have been subject to processes of commodification as migration from mainland Turkey has taken place and the demographics of the Karpaz region changes. This has significant policy implications for sustainable tourism development in this region of Cyprus.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Feb 28, 2013
• Publication Date: 2013-03
• Deposit Date: Aug 2, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events
• Print ISSN: 1940-7963
• Electronic ISSN: 1940-7971
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 81-94
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2013.774201
• Keywords: festivals, sustainable tourism, community development, Northern Cyprus,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/322531