On the trail of civilization: historical legacy and contemporary lifestyles
Our aim in developing this project was to highlight the delights of south-eastern Anatolia, an area much in the news due to political strife. Much of the information published was not previously available or, if it was in the public forum, it was in academic journals.
We aimed to involve the local communities of the nine towns we focused on by seeking their participation in deciding which sites and aspects of their lifestyles should be included. All the photographs in the guidebook and on the website were the work of local residents, who often contributed to the accompanying texts too. As such, the material is very much a homegrown product but really captures the beauty of the area architecturally and environmentally.
While we were keen to showcase the region’s achievements, we also discussed the conflicts between cultures that have characterized it throughout history. Some information can even be described as contentious, as different communities have varied accounts of historical events.
We hope the work we have done will encourage people interested in Mesopotamia, its past and its present, to visit this beautiful area and deepen their understanding of one of the most influential areas in the shaping of human history.
Your idea
This will be the address used to plot your entry on the map.
Street Address
Incilipinar mah
City
Gaziantep
State/Province
Postal/Zip Code
27040
Country
Turkey
Year innovation began
2005
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality and distinctiveness of the destination
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Indicate sector in which you principally work
Community Organization
Geographic location
Multiple locations, Urban, Rural, Coast, Desert, Suburban, Mountain, Rainforest.
Plot your innovation within the Mosaic of Solutions
Main insight addressed
Incorporate sustainable practices
Name Your Project
On the trail of civilization: historical legacy and contemporary lifestyles
Describe Your Idea
Our aim in developing this project was to highlight the delights of south-eastern Anatolia, an area much in the news due to political strife. Much of the information published was not previously available or, if it was in the public forum, it was in academic journals.
We aimed to involve the local communities of the nine towns we focused on by seeking their participation in deciding which sites and aspects of their lifestyles should be included. All the photographs in the guidebook and on the website were the work of local residents, who often contributed to the accompanying texts too. As such, the material is very much a homegrown product but really captures the beauty of the area architecturally and environmentally.
While we were keen to showcase the region’s achievements, we also discussed the conflicts between cultures that have characterized it throughout history. Some information can even be described as contentious, as different communities have varied accounts of historical events.
We hope the work we have done will encourage people interested in Mesopotamia, its past and its present, to visit this beautiful area and deepen their understanding of one of the most influential areas in the shaping of human history.
Innovation
What is the goal of your innovation?
To increase tourism, share knowledge of our historical sites, culture, increase economics through the influx of people.
How does your approach support or embody geotourism?
Although Mesopotamia is renowned as the cradle of western civilization, there has been little attention paid to documenting historical sites so that these are readily accessible to tourists, neither Turks or foreigners. Prior to this project, there had been no attempt to link the history of the region to the ethnic and cultural conflicts that have attracted much adverse publicity to south-eastern Turkey. Most significantly, the academic research that had characterized so much foreign interest in the area has been largely ignored.
Our approach was innovative in that it relied on local residents as expert guides to architecture, cuisine, handicrafts and music and highlighted aspects of these areas important to the local population as well as of interest to visitors without specialist knowledge of the region. We established links between the different parts of the region and made academic insights widely available by using different media, such as our guidebook, in English and Turkish, an English-language DVD, a CD of local music and a cultural heritage website. We ensured these forums were known among the local population by publicizing them in schools, colleges, Chambers of Commerce, NGOs, other EU projects and local government.
Describe your approach in detail. How is it innovative?
The team’s approach to documenting the attractions of the region was one of the goals of the project, in so far as involving the community in realizing our aims was as important as compiling the guide book and supplementary materials. In this way, our approach can be described as an end itself. The project began with the team actively soliciting the involvement of local communities by house to house visits, publicizing our aims in NGOs and local government offices, and by visiting schools, colleges and universities in the cities whose histories and contemporary life styles we wished to document. It was clear to us from the outset that our work should describe the region not through the eyes of outsiders, but be a reflection of what the communities themselves regarded as valuable and distinctive about their cities and their lifestyles. We were keen to highlight perspectives, community leaders and sections of the population. Women’s description of traditional recipes and folk dances enriched our accounts of local culture, for instance. The sharing of others’ perspectives also helped many residents to value what may have been taken for granted previously.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
We have worked to create partnerships with travel offices and with local governments so that new initiatives are taken to spread knowledge about the region. Gaziantep has, for instance, now opened a professional development course for tour operators, which incorporates many of the new sites highlighted in our guidebook. We also aim to encourage Turkish Airlines and travel agents in Syria – just across the border – to feature South east Anatolia in their publicity. It is, however, important to facilitate greater awareness of English language skills in order for information to be cascaded to a foreign tourists and tour operators.
Impact
In one sentence describe what kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
Increasing tourism will generate an influx of people to educate, share,
build bridges with surrounding countries and increase economics.
Describe the degree of success of your approach to date. Clearly define how you measure quantitative and qualitative impact in terms of how your approach contributes to the sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How does your approach minimize negative impacts? 200 words or less
This project has been completed for only three months but already we have seen
positive effects on tourism and exposure in our region as a direct result of this project. We have already began to attract more local, surrounding neighboring countries and international interest in tourism. If the past three months is an indication of what the future will bring, we feel strongly our project is already a success.
There has been a significant increase in press coverage, positive signs of new company openings and restaurants have widened their menus to include english to accommodate foreigners that visit the area.
We have also set up mechanisms for quantitative and qualitative feedback on the project. In addition to collecting government data on hotel reservations, flight bookings, border crossings and museum revenue, we monitor hits on our website, request businesses for feedback on increased financial viability. We check on the opening of new businesses,
and the setting up of courses in producing traditional handicrafts. We actively request tourist to leave comments and suggestion on books left at museums and hotels for their feedback. We are in touch with representative groups in each community and seek opinions on the success of the project.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
The project, by promoting residents’ evaluations of the attractions of their towns, their lifestyles and the histories in our promotional materials, engage travelers in real localities, not chocolate box stereotypes. We have sought to establish links between historical sites and traditions and the contemporary lives of the population. In this way, the guidebook and DVD act as only a starting point for further exploration of the locality through engagement with the lives of the local people on a wide range of levels. Renewed enthusiasm among the citizenry for their homes translates into the deeper engagement of tourists with the historical contemporary realities of their destinations.
Describe how your innovation helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area’s cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues. How do you motivate them to act responsibly in their future travel decisions?
Mesopotamia’s role in the blending of cultures is well documented. The attention focused on historical treasures previously neglected allows the local population the opportunity to reassess their worth. Care is now taken not just of historical sights but of the urban and rural environments where they are located, so that newfound resources are not sacrificed for temporary gain. Local government and educational institutions inculcate values of preservation and restoration in communities and establish new habits in tourists by inviting them to consider the impact that their presence and behaviour have on the locale, through signage, brochures and information packs.
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your innovation, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
Local residents had substantial input in this project. Residents involvement was and is important in making this project a success. Allowing local residents to choose which recipes, songs and handicrafts that would be part of the guidebook, CD and DVD allows our culture and city to come alive in these tools in marketing our city.We ensured community participation by going house to house and requesting local involvement through questionnaires and interviews. The response was staggering. Residents will benefit not only from income generated by tourism but also by sharing part of themselves, their cultures, their beliefs.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? What is the potential demand for your innovation?
Our promotional materials have created awareness of the richness of the region’s history, cooking, art forms and products. Improving infrastructure for travelers through better air and road accessibility, attractive accommodation and greater information about historical sites have provided a financial lifeline to many communities, which local government and private enterprise are keen to reinforce.
More attention must be paid to explaining attractions in languages other than Turkish, so that the richness of the region is accessible to foreigners. Although more popular sites can boast multilingual explanations, there is much work to be done in developing resources in less visited communities.
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
The project was originally financed by the European Union and the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce. However, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the
Southeastern Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration also contributed in research and logistical arrangements. Gaziantep Chamber of commerce will continue to support this project in the months and years to come through sales of the music CD, DVD and guidebook which the project team produced.
The total money spent on the project amounted to Euro 496,000. Due to EU funding regulations the project outputs are not subject to be sold. The guidebooks and music CDs are distributed through Tourism Offices and channels of Ministry of Culture and Tourism. During two years of project implementation two full time staff, 10 researchers, 10 experts have been employed.
What is your plan to expand your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
Turkey has in recent years attracted ever increasing number of tourists Egean and Mediterranean coastlines as well as Istanbul. There is now evidence of increasing interest in the south east region. However linguistic barriers and the lack of internet and on site resources continue to hamper to the development of tourism here. Furthermore evidence is beginning to emerge that growing popularity of the southeast means declining interest in other potentially rich areas with interest for tourists such as the Black Sea where economic deprivation is as acute as in Mesopotamia. Without substantial investment similar to that which created to this project, there is little hope that other regions of Turkey can develop as the south east is doing.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
A major drawback of the south eastern of the country is the lack of English and other language skills among the local population. This is true even in high class hotels and at major historical sites. Information about communities and historical treasures is not currently available in foreign languages or even, in some cases, in Turkish. Websites need to be developed in conjunction with materials offering more detailed information than the guidebook and DVD can provide. Local guides need more information about historical sites and to be able to communicate in languages other than Turkish.
The Story
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
My name is Filiz Hosukoglu.When I was asked to coordinate this project, I instantly knew this project was something I wanted to do as a challenge for myself and for my region. Knowing the cultural richness and magnificent historical sites of the region, I wanted to share it with the world.
This project became my baby for the past 2 years, instantly falling in love with it and spending endless hours nourishing and working hard for it. I am very proud to be part of such a fulfilling, meaningful project and enjoy watching it grow each day.
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell your story.
South eastern Anatolia has long suffered economic deprivation, evidenced by the reluctance of major industries to set up in the region, the lack of infrastructure for travelers and a dearth of user-friendly documentation of historical sites and other local attractions. Until now, much of the focus on the area has been related to terrorist incidents and this has, in turn, discouraged tourism disproportionately. There was, therefore, a clear need for a fresh approach to the region which would emphasise its many distinctive traditions, handicrafts and recipes, its fascinating music and its vibrant history. None of this was documented although the spread of, say, its cuisine all over the country is a testament to the high regard in which it is held. What is more, the importance of Mesopotamia in the development of current geopolitical trends in the Middle East and Europe is well-known, but documentation of sites has largely been confined to academic journals. The promotional materials we produced seek to redress that balance.
Our aim though was not merely documentation. We aimed to involve local communities in decisions as to which areas of their towns and lives should be highlighted. This has resulted in one of the most thorough accounts of Islamic architecture in the region ever to be published and redresses the bias previously in favour of Greek, Roman, Hittite and Byzantine sites. However, the promotional material was not intended as a guide only to the history of the region but also focused on contemporary art forms, whether these were to do with the making of handicrafts, cookery or dance and music.
The increased attention paid to the region by travelers, both local and international, should enable the communities to develop economically. There are already signs that this is happening. Significantly, traditional handicrafts – mosaic making, leather and copper work, to name just three examples – are already getting a new lease of life. Training courses are being set up by local authorities to rejuvenate these crafts.
Incidentally, the attention paid by local communities to historical sites and old-style buildings has greatly increased as these treasures are no longer simply taken for granted and allowed to rot, but are now seen as contributing to the uniqueness of individual communities.
Please write an overview of your project. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the Google map located on the competition homepage.
Our aim in developing this project was to highlight the delights of south-eastern Anatolia, an area much in the news due to political strife. Much of the information published was not previously available or, if it was in the public forum, it was in academic journals.
We aimed to involve the local communities of the nine towns we focused on by seeking their participation in deciding which sites and aspects of their lifestyles should be included. All the photographs in the guidebook and on the website were the work of local residents, who often contributed to the accompanying texts too. As such, the material is very much a homegrown product but really captures the beauty of the area architecturally and environmentally.
While we were keen to showcase the region’s achievements, we also discussed the conflicts between cultures that have characterized it throughout history. Some information can even be described as contentious, as different communities have varied accounts of historical events.
We hope the work we have done will encourage people interested in Mesopotamia, its past and its present, to visit this beautiful area and deepen their understanding of one of the most influential areas in the shaping of human history.
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Comments
I have read many of the projects posted and have learned about great places to vacation but this project is extremely impressive. Your web page is fantastic! I am sold! Now, I desire to explore the fantastic wonders of your region. I never knew that Turkey/ your region has so much to offer. I hope your project will have a continued success
I have also read many of the projects posted, learned about great places. and found out that we all are on the same track. Each participant/ project/ initiative has a different approach in order to present the culture, provide sustainability and benefit to the people of the region. We all have the same common denominator. Our web page is still under construction. We hope we will sustain the project by a user friendly and inteactive website.Please do come to the region and share your experiences with us.
I TOTALLY agree with you. Who would of known that Turkey was so beautiful and had this much to offer. I would love to take my family to Turkey on vacation. The knowledge they would gain from such a historical and cultural region.
If we do not tell what we have, how can we expect others to know what we can offer. The region has so much to offer for families, for groups, for academics, for individuals. The authenticity of the region; food, architecture, handicrafts, archeological sites, natural beauties, so many diversities, colors and sounds integrate in such a unique harmony to give the visitor an incredible experince.
YES, I have to agree with you both. I am truly amazed by this project. NEVER in a million years would I of thought or wanted to go to Turkey but I have to admit, after seeing the pictures from the web site, I would LOVE to go. Turkey is now at the top of my list for places to go. The historical sites look fascinating. GREAT WORK on this project! CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE!
The presentation of the region through our guide, local songs and the film; which are all available on our website,
http://www.guneydogumirasi.org/eng/
will hopefully reach more visitors, and inform them about the region. Our web site is under construction. When it is properly done, it will be interactive and user friendly. We as a team worked very hard with a certain budget and at a scheduled time. Fortunately we are happy to receive positive feedback from visitors, and hopefully this number will increase as more people keep visiting the site, and spread the word.
I am happy to read such positive feedback regarding your project. Your dedication seems to be paying off. Many people are unaware of other cultures and history outside there own Countries. I hope your project will encourage them the desire to come to your region. Your region has suffered much over the centuries and now I feel it is time to see it flourish. It certainly is deserving. The pictures are gorgeous. 15 Years ago I had the privilege in coming to Turkey on business but never ventured South. I think its time to explore the Southern regions. I didn’t realize how much Turkey has to offer.
Dear Samuel,
I just downloaded some pictures from my archive for our entry. I am sure you downloaded the guidebook; where nine cities, a general overview, and useful information( hotels, restaurants, transportation) are available.
http://www.guneydogumirasi.org/eng/
And the photos in Southeastern Anatolia guide book are from different sources. We had professional photographers who worked with us during the implementation of the project. Plus we received donations from many volunteers. Those professional national and local photographers have opened their archives, and let us use the appropriate photographs for the guide book. I am sure you noticed different art of photography as you read our guidebook. There is a Turkish saying which goes" One is able to perceive the message/ information as much as you are able to give". In other words the more we tell about our region, the more the tourist is informed. I hope you will visit T?rkey and South East Anatolia again, and see the difference.
Thank you for introducing the unknown part of Turkey. I looked at your guide book, watched your film and listened to your songs from the villages. All reflect the colors of the region.I think your guide book is the first guidebook published for the region by the participation of the local people. I beleive in more people will visit your region after reading your wonderful guidebook.Good work. Congratulations !!!
Dear Ayse,
Thank you for visiting our website, reading our entry and dropping your comment.
http://www.guneydogumirasi.org/eng/
Yes, I totally agree with you. We collaborated with the local people while we collected the data,photos and the songs of the region. During shooting the area we received generous contribution from the local people. In fact the success of this project is the success of the people of the region. Hoping our visitors will identify with me when they visit South East Anatolia, and meet the hospitable local people who are ready to share their bread with them.
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