Navigating World Heritage Nomination as a Tourism Development Strategy: Multi-Vocal Stakeholder Governance and Policy Implications at Prusias Ad Hypium Ancient Theatre

This study examines the governance and stewardship of the Prusias ad Hypium Ancient Theatre in northwestern Türliye during its ongoing UNESCO World Heritage nomination process. Moving beyond a conventional archaeological framing, the research adopts a qualitative case study design to construct a multi-vocal analytical framework — one that bridges the structural divide between formal heritage administration and the lived experiences of local communities. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 13 strategic informants across six key stakeholder clusters, the study interrogates the power dynamics, institutional expectations, and policy tensions embedded in heritage nomination processes at emerging destinations. The findings reveal that whilst UNESCO designation functions as a compelling catalyst for regional economic growth, its potential is constrained by persistent awareness deficits and unresolved infrastructure demands. The analysis identifies a governance gap between top-down institutional frameworks and ground-level stakeholder realities — a tension with direct implications for heritage policy and site management. In response, the study advances a Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach as an integrative policy instrument, foregrounding stakeholder collaboration and long-term sustainability. The research contributes a replicable strategic framework for heritage managers and policy practitioners, demonstrating that authentic heritage preservation and community-centred governance are mutually reinforcing conditions for sustainable outcomes. Keywords: UNESCO World Heritage nomination, Heritage site governance, Sustainable heritage tourism, Historic Urban Landscape (HUL), Stakeholder engagement