IS CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL PROPERTIES A TOOL FOR TOURISM HOSPITALTY?

Abstract

The paper addresses to the perennial question "Is tourism a tool for the conservation of cultural properties?" or, vice versa: "Is conservation of cultural properties a tool for tourism?" Author, for being a conservation architect, asks the question according to the main theme of the conference as "Should architectural conservation activities mainly aim at fulfilling the requirements and expectations of the tourism for sake of touristic hospitality?"Thus, approach to the Congress theme “tourism hospitality” will be from the viewpoint of conservation theories, conservation practice and conservation politics. The paper aims to address the interrelation and/or contradiction between tourism and conservation of cultural and natural heritage. It will use an amalgam of theoretical approaches and basic international documents in relation to the management of tourism and cultural heritage. Interaction and/or contradiction between the tourist and the inhabitant will create the basis to question the term “hospitality”.Arguments and discussions will be exemplified by cases from Turkey and some other European countries. The clues of basic principles pertaining to a balanced interrelation between the two main concepts given above will be given in conclusion.