Touristic Value of Mostar Bridge: An Exploratory Research

Abstract

The Mostar Bridge was built in 1557 by Mimar Hajruddin and continued its existence until 1993. It was destroyed by Croatian artillery fire during the Bosnian War and the stones used in its construction mixed with the Neretva River, which divides the Mostar region as a natural border. The stones of the bridge were removed from the river by Hungarian divers and reconstruction began in 1997 with the support of Turkey, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary. The Mostar Bridge, which was opened in 2004, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. This study aims to reveal the touristic value of the bridge by examining the studies on the Mostar Bridge using the literature review method. Before literature review field work was conducted by the author to see the destination. After the search conducted in the Web of Science database under the title of ‘Mostar Bridge’, 92 studies were reached, and those that were double-counted and articles that were not appropriate in terms of content were removed. In the literature review conducted, it was understood that there were not enough studies on the touristic value of the Mostar Bridge considering its history. It is particularly evident that the bridge's potential for melancholy and diaspora tourism has not been utilized. The atmosphere of trust, peace and tranquility that was disrupted by the Bosnia War and the collapse of the bridge has also changed the ethnic structure of the region. While the vast majority of the Serbian population migrated after the war, Bosnians and Croats began to live in two separate areas, east and west of Mostar. While the Mostar Bridge creates a diaspora tourism potential for those who migrated and have historical ties to the region, it should also be evaluated in the context of melancholy tourism as it is the most concrete example of war and destruction. Studies to be conducted in the following period should emphasize the alternative tourism types that the bridge can serve and the tourism potential it carries.

Keywords

• Tourism
• Tourist Value
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Mostar
• Exploratory Research

Mostar Köprüsünün Turistik Değeri: Keşfedici Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Mostar Köprüsü 1557 yılında Mimar Hayruddin tarafından yapılmış ve varlığını 1993 yılına kadar sürdürmüştür. Bosna Savaşı’nda Hırvat bir topçunun ateş açması sonucu yıkılmış ve yapımında kullanılan taşlar Mostar bölgesini doğal bir sınır olarak bölen Neretva Nehri’ne karışmıştır. Köprü taşları Macar dalgıçlar tarafından nehirden çıkarılmış 1997 yılında Türkiye, Fransa, Bosna Hersek ve Macaristan’ın desteğiyle yeniden inşaya başlanmıştır. 2004 yılında açılışı yapılan Mostar Köprüsü 2005 yılında UNESCO Dünya Miras Listesi’ne girmiştir. Bu çalışmada Mostar Köprüsü’nü konu alan araştırmalar literatür taraması yöntemiyle incelenerek köprünün turistik değerinin ortaya çıkarılması amaçlanmaktadır. Web of Science veri tabanında ‘Mostar Bridge’ başlığıyla yapılan tarama sonucunda 92 çalışmaya ulaşılmış, bunların arasından çift sayım yapılanlar ve içerik olarak uygun olmayan makaleler çıkarılmıştır. Yapılan literatür taramasında Mostar Köprüsü’nün tarihi göz önüne alındığında turistik değerine dair yeterince çalışma olmadığı anlaşılmıştır. Özellikle köprünün hüzün ve diaspora turizmi potansiyelinin değerlendirilemediği ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bosna Savaşı ve köprünün yıkılmasıyla bozulan güven, huzur ve barış ortamı bölgenin etnik yapısını da değiştirmiş savaş sonrası Sırp nufüsun büyük çoğunluğu göç ederken, Boşnak ve Hırvatlar da Mostar’ın doğusu ve batısı olmak üzere iki ayrı alanda yaşamaya başlamıştır. Mostar köprüsü göç eden ve bölgeyle tarihi bağı bulunanlar için bir diaspora turizmi potansiyeli oluştururken, savaş ve yıkımın en somut örneği olması bakımından da hüzün turizmi bağlamında değerlendirilmelidir. Sonraki süreçte yapılacak çalışmalar köprünün hizmet edebileceği alternatif turizm çeşitlerine ve taşıdığı turizm potansiyeline vurgu yapmalıdır.

Keywords

• Turizm
• Turistik Değer
• Bosna Hersek
• Mostar
• Keşfedici Araştırma

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