The Role of Tourism in the Sustainability of Hıdırellez Festivals: A Conceptual Framework

Tourism can play an important role in ensuring the sustainability of traditional cultural elements that are in danger of being forgotten by allowing them to be experienced. In this context, Paper offers a conceptual framework by discussing the role of tourism in the sustainability of the Hıdırellez festival. Attention is drawn to the features of the Hıdırellez festival such as its traditional structure, history, rituals and course of events. Sustainability problem of traditional culture and the intermediary role of tourism in carrying traditional culture to the future are other topics that the paper focuses on. The study has created a conceptual framework that draws attention to intangible cultural heritage elements such as events and festivals in the case of Hıdırellez, unlike sustainability studies on material culture elements in tourism. This aspect contributes to an important gap in the literature. Empirical tests are recommended in future studies to make the presented conceptual framework meaningful.