Evaluation of the Göreme Historical National Park in Terms of Tourism Practices

Abstract

Göreme National Historical Park is located in city of Nevşehir, Turkey. It has cover approx. 9.614 hectares (ha)  which involve one city (Nevşehir), two towns (Ürgüp and Göreme) and two villages (Çavuşin, Aktepe). These regions have geomorphological, natural and cultural values. Due to very rich historical assets, it was declared to be National Historical Park in 1986 by Turkish Council of Ministries. It has also added to the list of  Natural and Cultural Heritage under the name of "Göreme National Park and Cappadocia Rocky Areas" in the 357’th order on the date of 12.06.1985 by United Nations Educational-Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the area is one of the nine places from Turkey which are all located within the list. Göreme Historical National Park, located in the Cappadocia region, which is in a very important position in terms of cultural and historical heritage of Turkey, has been one of the well known places in worldwide. Both the natural formation and the historical remains attract tourists from all around of the world and provide a great development in the region in terms of tourism. Thereby, the most important feature of the National Park is the fairy chimneys formed by the erosion of superficial waters on the rocks and rock assembles. However, Göreme Historical National Park, which has historical resources (underground cities, churches, chapels), geological formations such as fairy chimneys, endemic plant existence, landscape value, rest and entertainment and tourism resource values is a unique place worth seeing. The area is protected due to  a national park  status and also contains archaeological and urban sites. A number of touristic activities have conducted in these area including nature and culture tourism, balloon tourism, faith tourism, horse tourism, congress tourism and wine productio In this study, the tourism potential and the activities in the area have been examined in detail and current problems have been identified. Some suggestions and opinions for improving tourism potential of that area were given. 

Keywords

• Göreme,Göreme Historical National Park,Tourism

References

1. Anonymous 1. 2016. General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks,http://www.milliparklar.gov.tr/korunanalanlar/index.htm , (accessed 30 March 2016)
2. Anonymous 2. 2016. Nevşehir Museum Directorate, Interviews with Nevsehir Museum Directorate, (interviewed 30 March 2016).
3. Anonymous 3. 2015. Göreme Municipality, Göreme General Information. http://www.goreme.bel.tr/tr/goreme-genel-bilgiler, (accessed 09 April 2015).
4. Anonymous 4. 2015. Uçhisar Municipality, Uçhisar General Information, http://www.uchisar.bel.tr, (accessed 09 April 2015).
5. Anonymous 5. 2014. Ahiler Kalkınma Ajansı, Kapadokya’da Turizm Yatırım Olanakları Dergisi. Erişim Tarihi: 22.08.2016. http://ahika.gov.tr/assets/ilgilidosyalar/Kapadokya Turizm-Yatirim-Olanaklari.pdf, (accessed 22 August 2016).
6. Bayer, M.Z. 1992. Turizme Giriş, İşletme Fakültesi Yayını, 531s, (Introduction to Tourism, Tourism Faculty Publications), Istanbul.
7. Evci, A. 2016. Göreme Açık Hava Müzesi’nin Erişilebilir Turizm Açısından İrdelenmesi.Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, 157s, (Demonstration of Göreme Open Air Museum in terms of Accessible Tourism, Suleyman Demirel University, Natural Sciences Institute, MSc. Thesis 157 p.), Isparta
8. İşcen, Y. 2004. Kapadokya’da Şarapçılık, Kapadokya Kültür ve Tanıtım Dergisi, (Winery in Capoccadia, Capoccadia Culture and Introduction Journal), http://cappadociaexplorer.com/en/detay.php?id=152&cid=81&page=1. (Accessed 08 July 2015).

9. Metin, N. 2010. Nevşehir İli Ürgüp İlçesi’nin Sosyo-Kültürel ve Ekonomik Yapısı, Niğde Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, 259s, (Socio-Cultural and Economical Structure of Ürgüp Town of Nevşehir City, Niğde University, Social Sciences Institute, MSc. Thesis 259 p.), Niğde
10. Nayir, O. 2009. Isparta Yöresi Korunan Doğal Alanlarında Ekoturizm Talep ve Eğilimlerinin Belirlenmesi, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, 128s, (Determination of ecotourism demand and trends in protected natural areas of Isparta region, Suleyman Demirel University, Natural Sciences Institute, MSc. Thesis 128 p.), Isparta