Sustainable cultural and natural heritage oriented spatial strategic
planning process in a development and governance model proposal:
Example of Core Cappadocia Site
Abstract
Cities, which are all of the natural and socio-cultural values that determine their identity, are considered as living
organisms. The transfer of the original identities of the cities to the future is possible with the efforts of local, regional and
national actors. Similarly, the preservation and transferal of historical cities, which are the world heritage sites, to future
generations, is associated with the sustainability of cultural and natural values. In 1985, the Cappadocia site, which was
included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List, has
been hosting the tangible and intangible cultural heritage treasure with unique examples for centuries in Turkey. Also,
policies for the conservation of intangible assets in this site seem to be insufficient. In this study, planning was carried out
for the settlements in the Core Cappadocia Site on the borders of Nevşehir province within the context of varying themes.
The study aims to establish an individual, social and institutional sustainability associations network focused on
integrated cultural and natural heritage. For this purpose, fundamental problems and potentials of the Core Cappadocia
Site, which underlies the plannings, have been detected. Fieldwork was carried out for the solution of the problems.
Observational and survey methods were implemented in the fieldwork, and secondary data on the subject were collected
from the relevant institutions. Using the implemented methods and obtained data, “Spiral Sensitivity Model” was
proposed. With this model, it is aimed to establish an individual, social and institutional sustainability associations
network in the field of integrated cultural heritage management.
Keywords: Sustainability, cultural and natural heritage, spatial strategic planning, Core Cappadocia Site, governance
1. Introduction
The city identity is a broad concept of distinct components for each city and emphasizes social, economic, environmental
and cultural characteristics that allow a space to be distinguished from another [1]. Bu doğrultuda, kültürel mirası
oluşturan doğal ve yapılı çevre ile somut olmayan sosyo-kültürel değerler, kent kimliğinin temel parçaları olarak kabul
edilmektedir. The socio-cultural component of this identity brings together all conscious or unconscious perceptions,
knowledge, experience, behaviors, requirements, and desires of the individual, as well as the traditions, beliefs, and
expectations of the society in which the individual lives [2].
When cultural and natural heritage is concerned with tourism, it is of particular importance to conserve its originality and
to emphasize its distinguishing characteristics. According to the perception of visitors, the socio-cultural and physical
origin of values that make that site unique can be regarded as the principal reason for this. Sustainability of earnings
derived from tourism is possible with the sustainability of these values. On the other hand, the sustainability of cultural
and natural heritage is dependent on ensuring the balance of conservation and utilization; and the balance of conservation
and utilization depends on the planning of spatial strategies.
The Core Cappadocia Site, which is decided as a field of study, is commemorated as a universal value which is located in
the borders of Nevşehir province and some of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. With the analysis
work carried out with the secondary data collected within the scope of the research and the data collected from the on-site
examinations, fundamental problems have been identified, and the underlay for the spatial strategic plan has been created.
According to this, the sustainability of cultural and natural values in the site is threatened by problems such as the low
resilience in legal dimensions, the monotony of tourism strategies developed for the built environment, the physical decay
of the built environment, the relocation of the local resident from the heritage site, the low resilience of cultural heritage
structures to the visitor population and the lack of sustainability of intangible cultural heritage assets. It is striking that
these problems are caused by inadequate planning processes and lack of governance. In the site, in addition to conserving
unique local values, global competitiveness is also essential. Therefore, in this study, a sustainable development model
was tried to be created with [3] ''spatial strategic planning'', which aims to keep pace with the global world while ensuring
the conservation of the locale-specific values for the solution of the problems identified.
The “Spiral Sensitivity Model,” which is gained in the literature with this study, is a model that is the leading role of local
people, especially youth and women. The main objective of the model is to carry cultural and natural heritage values to
the future through an organizational form that is collectively carried out by non-governmental organizations and
multisectorial stakeholders. This model is designed as a critical and integral component of planning. The concept of
dominant participation is envisaged as a complementary model in the implementation of spatial strategic plans, especially
in terms of town and regional planners and policymakers. Although the study is fictionalized in the Core Cappadocia Site,
it is envisaged that it constitutes an example for the studies carried out within the scope of various themes in Turkey.
2. Conceptual framework
2.1. Sustainable cultural and natural heritage
The concept of a UNESCO World Heritage has been developed to protect the cultural or physical significance of sites that
have been laid out by different cultures or civilizations throughout the history of humankind and which are considered to
be the common heritage of humanity. This common history is wanted to be put under protection with the understanding
of “The loss of one is the loss of all humanity's memory." UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, has prepared an agreement on the protection of The World Cultural and Natural Heritage [4]. The
agreement was ratified on-. Turkey is among the 192 countries that have signed this agreement. The contracting
parties undertake to ensure the sustainability of all cultural and natural heritage within their borders. In Turkey, 18 assets
have been joined to the UNESCO World Heritage List. 16 of these assets were accepted as cultural heritage. PamukkaleHierapolis, with Göreme National Park and Cappadocia, is regarded as both cultural and natural heritage into the list.
2.2. Spatial strategic planning
The spatial strategic plan is a plan that associates country development policies and regional development strategies at the
spatial level. It consists of thematic layouts prepared using schematic and graphical language on a scale of 1/250.000,
1/500.000 maps or higher scale maps. With this plan, spatial strategies for the conservation and development of natural,
historical and cultural heritages are determined with the help of economic and social potential, goals and strategies. In
this process, an order of importance between actions is defined. Thanks to this definition, the most critical problems are
addressed [3]. Albrechts (2006) has examined 9 different spatial strategic plans and has identified 6 key features: They are
selective, relational-annex-inclusive, integrative, visioning, action oriented, and they have some initial reflections [5]. The
focus of the planning process, which is proposed in the model implementation, is also highlighted in these six features. .
In Turkey, when the legislation is examined, it is seen that the matters related to the spatial strategy plan are detailed in
The Regulation on Spatial Planning published in the official journal dated-. With the article of the 6th
amendment of the zoning law no.3194 changed on-; spatial plans are composed of “environmental plans” and
“development plans” levels in accordance with the “spatial strategy plans.” Furthermore, the localize of spatial strategy
plans in the planning levels has been determined. In the current situation, preliminary preparation was made for a spatial
strategy plan at the country scale. However, there is no approved model of a spatial strategy plan.
2.3. Governance
The term governance was first used in the President's message of Sub-Saharan Africa: From Crisis to Sustainable Growth,
which was published by the World Bank in 1989 and thus officially entered into the literature [6]. The concept is involved
in the report in the statement of; “Private sector initiatives, and market mechanisms are essential, but they need to be
managed with good governance.''In addition to the World Bank, the concept of governance commonly used in the reports
of international organizations such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations (UN) represents a complement of associations where mutual
interaction is the primary rather than one party's administration of others. The concept, which means” collaborative
management," is used to emphasize the administration activities based on mutual interaction with the participatory,
participative, consistent, responsible, transparent, accountable and equitable approach. In the process of spatial strategic
planning, an approach that allows the establishment of inter-stakeholder relations is adopted. The concept is the
foundation of the Spiral Sensitivity Model.
3. Spatial strategic planning process in Core Cappadocia Site
3.1. Characteristics of Core Cappadocia Site
The Core Cappadocia Site, chosen as the study domain, is located on the borders of Nevşehir province, which is placed in
the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. The site consists of Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Mustafapaşa, Ürgüp and Avanos
settlements located at the borders of Nevşehir province. In this site, there are capped fairy chimneys with a conical shaped
body, which have a boulder on the top (Figure 1). The conical shaped bodies of these natural formations consist of rock
formed of tuff, tuffite and volcanic ash and chimney caps consist of competent rocks. These natural formations are rarely
encountered in the world. Because of their uniqueness, they are inevitable to be regarded as a universal heritage.
Figure 1.The appearance of the natural and built environment in the Core Cappadocia Site [7]
There is air transportation from İstanbul, Nevşehir, and Kayseri to Cappadocia, which is one of the major tourist centers
of Turkey with its cultural and natural heritage. Transportation is provided by land from nearby cities. The location of
Nevşehir province and its districts are presented in Figure 2.
İstanbul
Figure 2.Environmental-transportation relations of Nevşehir province [8]
The study domain is among the essential tourism destinations of Turkey due to its natural rock-cut structure sites and its
local, intangible cultural values. In the field, tourism activities constitute the primary source of living. However, due to
the upper scale tourism decisions that remain inefficient, local values are gradually disappearing. The study aims to
introduce a new approach based on continuity, integrity, reconciliation-participation, and vision, which contributes to the
conservation of the unique values of the site. The population centers, archaeological and natural protected areas, historical
protected areas, buffer zones and areas that can be opened to tourism in the Core Cappadocia Site and immediate
surroundings are presented in Figure 3.
Tourism Area
Boundary
Tourism-Oriented
Settlement Areas
Tourism
Establishment Facilities
Historical
Protected Area
Natural Protected
Area
Figure 3. Core Cappadocia Site protected areas and tourism facilities [8]
3.2. Analysis studies in spatial strategic planning process in Core Cappadocia Site
The study region, denominated Core Cappadocia, was located based on the boundaries of the Cappadocia Cultural and
Tourism Development Zone determined by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey. The site
consists of Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Mustafapaşa, Ürgüp and Avanos settlements. The size of the area is approximately
48,300 ha. Within these boundaries, according to the data of 2013, a total of 51.284 people are living in Avanos and Ürgüp
city center. This number is about 25% of the total population of Nevşehir province.
In the Core Cappadocia Site, the analysis was carried out within the context of the spatial strategic planning process
through a problem tree method. As a result of these studies, primary problems were determined in the context of
sustainability of cultural and natural heritage on settlement basis to create an underlay for the spatial strategic planning
process and presented in Table 1.
Table 1.The primary problems determined on a settlement basis in Nevşehir
PRIMARY
PROBLEMS
FORMULATION OF PROBLEMS
Low Resilience in
Legal Dimension
It is observed that the applicable legislation and the inspection mechanism are inadequate. The existing plans
have been identified as weak local community orientation.
The formation of the accommodation facilities in the area has also changed with the tourism understanding
which started to alteration in the region since the 2000s. With the restoration of historical structures in the
old city centers, the concept of “boutique hotel” has become an established concept in the region and gained
significant momentum.
Standardization of
Tourism Strategies
Developed For Built
Environment
Examining the current tourist profile is vital for the future development of the site. In this context, visitors '
income state, age groups, preferred activities, preferred accommodation facility typologies and duration of
their stay were examined.
Although there are many natural and cultural elements that the site has to offer to its visitors, it is noticed
that the facilities are quite luxurious and constrain both infrastructure and superstructure. Trends in the
increase of boutique hotels in the site, faster conversion of existing structures, acceleration of restoration
processes and similar restorations result in the loss of unique characteristics.
With the changing tourism structure of the site since the 1980s, the interest for old city centers has increased,
and the former housing stock has been restored and converted into tourist accommodation facilities.
However, with the increasing recognition of the site, the process is proceeding very quickly, and the cost of
this transformation has paved the way for the implementation of the same method by the large investor.
Accommodation
Areas and Physical
Decay of Built
Environment
Alienation of The
Local People From
The Area Of Heritage
Low Resilience Of
Cultural Heritage
Structures Against The
Visitor Population
Low Resilience of
Intangible Cultural
Heritage Assets
Against Time
The demand for tourism increased from year to year, on the one hand, helped the settlement economically.
On the other hand, it damages its intrinsic values and its social and cultural structure.
One of the reasons for the physical decay in the built environment is due to the natural disaster. Wind
erosion, soil erosion, rock fall and collapse in caves cause physical decay in buildings.
Another reason for physical decay in the built environment is that the community cannot implement
conservation plans because of their economic insufficiencies or because of their personal preferences. By the
restoration of historical buildings according to personal needs, incorrect material usage and faulty repairs
hinder the sustainability of the historical texture.
In the field of study, it has been determined that the local people are alienated to the area, especially by the
transformation of the housings to the hotel, and therefore the intangible cultural heritage cannot be
sustained. Especially with hotel investments becoming an investment tool for people outside the area, it has
been determined that local development cannot be achieved, quality of life has reduced, and the local people
have abandoned the area in time.
As a result of the revitalization or transformation projects of the physical decay areas, the function and user
differences are experienced in the built environment. As a result, the local people are alienated to their
cultural heritage.
The activities of visitors to the Cappadocia Site should be well supervised. For example; although quad bikes
are forbidden to enter the valleys in Göreme, it is known that tourism firms violated this rule. The presence
of an efficient and supervised “visitor management” is vital in the site.
Intangible heritage assets consist of traditions-customs, manners, mores, lifestyles, and disciplines. It is
observed that pottery, weaving, Bektashism, folk expressions, ballads, and gastronomy, which constitute
intangible cultural heritage values, have not been adopted sufficiently by the next generation in the site.
3.3. Potentials and synthesis study in spatial strategic planning process in Core Cappadocia Site
Cultural and natural heritage characteristics are of great significance for the planning of the site in the study field,
approximately 9.884 ha, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The potentials of the Core Cappadocia
Site, consisting of Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Mustafapaşa, Ürgüp, and Avanos settlements, are given in Table 2 in terms
of settlements.
Table 2. Potentials of settlements in the Core Cappadocia Site
SETTLEMENTS
Göreme
Uçhisar
Ortahisar
Mustafapaşa
Ürgüp
Avanos
POTENTIALS
COMMON POTENTIALS
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
● Having an outstanding universal
cultural landscape
● Being included in the UNESCO World
Heritage List
● The presence of cultural memory
The presence of the intangible cultural heritage
The focus of tourism routes
The local investor is occupied
The existence of cultural and natural heritage
Having a monumental structure
The presence of tangible and intangible cultural heritage
Having a monumental structure
The presence of tangible and intangible cultural heritage
The focus of tourism routes
The presence of intangible and tangible cultural heritage
The local investor is occupied
The presence of the intangible cultural heritage
Having a monumental structure
In the context of sustainability of cultural and natural heritage, the problems obtained by problem tree method are taken
into the problem circle. The potentials and problems determined were reflected in the environment as a synthesis study
based on settlements, as indicated in Figure 4.
Areas of urban transformation projects
Areas where there is a risk of erosion
Non-regional investor areas where local development is threatened
Areas where the scale of boutique hotels grows
Areas where cultural landscape texture is destroyed
KP
Areas where rock carvings are converted into hotels
TTY
Areas experiencing housing problem
Areas experiencing physical decay
Figure 4. Planning
approach
for the
settlementszone
in the Core Cappadocia Site in the context of the spatial strategic planning
Culture
and tourism
development
process [9]
National park
3.4. Planning approach in spatial strategic planning process in Core Cappadocia Site
Settlements without conservation plan
With the zoning operation, the site is divided into 2 main zones, and the problems are scrutinized in each zone. It is possible
Investment
areas
comeaswith
law for the encouragement of tourism
to sort the criteria
based on
the that
zoning
follows:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Property acquisition with law of reciprocity
Isolation of the social environment to the existing texture,
Degradation
of amount
existing texture as a result of tourism investment decisions,
Total bed
Physical decay,
Low resilience of local development,
Natural disaster risks such as erosion,
Exceeding of the social carrying capacity and
A variance of the scale of boutique hotels
The relationship between these criteria and the zones is presented in Figure 5 on the map.
Bölgeleme
Tur güzergah
Somut olmaya
(dokumacılık)
Yeraltı şehirle
1. derece eroz
Toplumsal taş
Kentsel dönüş
Yabancı yatırı
Planlama yetk
Yerel yatırımcının yoğun olması
Somut olmayan kültürel mirasın varlığı
44 adet anıtsal yapı bulunması
Butik otellerin ölçeğinin değişimi
Kentsel dönüşüm projelerinin var olması
Yeni konut alanlarının tarihi doku üzerindeki
baskısı
Fiziki çevrenin köhnemesi
Toplumsal taşıma kapasitesinin aşılması
2. derece erozyon riski
Kırsal turizm potansiyelinin
olması
Turizmin yerel kalkınmaya
katkısının yetersiz olması
Tur güzergahlarının odaklandığı nokta olması
Somut olmayan kültürel mirasın varlığı
(dokumacılık)
Yerel yatırımcının yoğun olması
283 adet anıtsal yapı bulunması
Planlama yetkilerinin çakışması
1. derece erozyon riski
Toplumsal taşıma kapasitesinin aşılması
Somut kültürel mirasın varlığı (kale)
58 adet anıtsal yapı bulunması
Yabancı yatırımcının yoğun olması
Tarihi kentsel dokunun bozulması
Toplumsal taşıma kapasitesinin
aşılması
Butik otellerin ölçeğinin değişimi
R.1
Somut kültürel mirasın varlığı (şarap üretimi)
Somut kültürel mirasın varlığı (kale)
42 adet anıtsal yapı bulunması
1. derece erozyon riski
Kentsel dönüşüm projelerinin var olması
Fiziki çevrenin köhnemesi
Yabancıya mülk satışının yoğun olması
R.2
Figure 5. Core Cappadocia Site Zoning Operation [9]
Somut kültürel mir
Yeraltı şehirlerinin
1. derece erozyon r
Fiziki çevrenin köh
Tarihi kentsel doku
Yerel halkın bölged
R.2
3.5. Determination of objectives, policies and actions within the scope of planning approach
The solution of the problems identified in this section is discussed under the headings of legal/administrative dimension
on cultural and natural heritage, cultural landscape and built environment relationship, the impact of tourism on the local
community and local values and the low resilience of cultural heritage structures to the visitor population. The vision of
the plan has been determined as a ''responsible and participatory Cappadocia, which maintains its tourism activities while
conserving its cultural and natural values.''
3.5.1. Legal/Administrative dimension in cultural and natural heritage conservation
The robust legal infrastructure for the conservation of cultural and natural heritage has a significant role in sustainability.
Although conservation and administration policies have been fixed in the law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural
Property and the law on National Parks, it is observed that in the field of work, implementation and inspection
mechanisms remain incapable. In the formation of this situation, it is possible to say that the interference and lack of
coordination of the realm of authority regarding the government agencies have a significant share. However, regulatory
proposals are out of the scope of this study. This section focuses mainly on “visitor administration” strategies as part of
the field management in the sites of cultural heritage through the solution of problems arising from inadequate plannings.
For the field of study, there is no spatial strategy plan designed in the current condition. When looking at the plans on a
similar scale, it is recognized that the Cappadocia Cultural Tourism Development Site is defined in the 2023 Action Plan
of the Turkish Tourism Strategy. For the site, within the framework of sustainable tourism understanding, proposals have
been made to evaluate the current tourism opportunities and to diversify tourism. However, it is observed that the
proposals are limited in extent. On 1/25.000 scale, Regional Plan for the Cappadocia Cultural and Tourism Conservation
and Development Area and Environmental Plan and Göreme National Park Long-Term Development Plan is at the lower
level. The lack of an upper-scale plan based on these plannings results in the determination of the main decisions and
detailed decisions on the lower-scale basis. However, it is imperative that the necessary policies and strategies are defined
in the upper-scale plans and the lower-scale plans are fictionalized under these policies.
Another administrative problem is that the importance of visitor management is not given as part of the field management
of Göreme National Park. In the presentation of cultural assets for tourism purposes, the increase in the number of tourists
over time creates significant conservation problems in these sites and reduces the resilience of these sites. The action
developed to resolve this problem is “visitor management.” The object of the visitor management is to ensure sustainable
tourism development in the site, to introduce the site effectively to the visitors, to disclosure its potentials and to conserve
the current assets of the site from the demands of the visitors. In this context, it is aimed to prevent the visitors from
degrading the site, as well as to determine the layout in which the visitors perceives the site in the best way and to direct
them towards the site in this orientation. In the site, visitor management shall be carried out based on the defined criteria
for heritage administration in the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), International Cultural
Tourism Regulation.
Within the scope of the visitor management plan, it is recommended to make improvements on existing plans, to determine
hiking routes, opening facilities to inform tourist and to organize promotional actions that attract to the future tourists in
the site. Applications should be performed in Göreme National Park on a small scale and in the short term, in the sites to
be protected in the Cultural and Tourism Development Zone in the medium term, and in the whole of the Core Cappadocia
Site in the long term to carry out these activities.
Projects planned within the extent of visitor management;
● Increasing inspection actions in risky fields against wear and tear in heritage assets,
● Planning of valleys and determination of hiking routes,
● The opening of facilities for informing the tourists and the promotional actions attract future tourists in the site.
There are some “restrictive” actions to ensure the sustainability of the cultural landscape of the site (fairy chimneys, valleys,
churches, and rock-cut structures). The first is the prohibition of the use of motor vehicles in the valleys and the
requirement of administration to ensure the applicability of these restrictions in the site. Secondly, it is crucial to restrict
the number of daily visitors in these particular spaces to minimize the effects of humidity generated by visitors on mural
paintings in churches.
For visitors to be able to comprehend the site ideally;
● To acknowledge the number and profile of visitors arriving at the site in detail, to monitor them regularly, to determine
the demands and satisfaction of visitors and users through surveys to be performed,
● In the site, determining routes for the orientation of the visitors, mapping the zone, placing the directing and
informative signs,
● Opening information offices and related service facilities to inform the visitors about the site,
● To establish station spots (passenger transportation zones) for tours to be organized in the site and to provide
transportation for those who want to visit the National Park; to provide control as well as promotional services at the
entrance of routes which are intensively occupied with visitors,
● It is essential to make regulations to inform the visitors within the scope of the open land design and landscape project
to be prepared considering the original geomorphological and cultural texture of the region.
The authority required for the implementation of the applications has been determined as the Provincial Directorate of
Culture and Tourism. The institutions to be associated with are the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of
Culture and Tourism, Nevşehir Municipality, General Directorate of Monuments and Museums, Tourism Agencies,
relevant non-governmental organizations and universities in Nevşehir.
3.5.2. The relationship between cultural landscape and built environment
Çalışma alanında yapılı çevreye ilişkin tespit edilen temel problemlerden biri; yapılı çevrenin işlevsel tektipleşmesi ve
bozulmasıdır. The proposed projects in the context of the conservation of functional standardization and the effective
implementation of conservation-restoration applications which are formed by the transformation of many houses into
tourism facilities in the site can be listed as follows:
● To maintain housing by conservation and to develop programs and projects to redress the balance between housing
and tourism functions,
● To design, implement and monitor conservation and development projects to improve the quality of life,
● To prevent the sale of buildings to non-local persons and institutions for tourism purposes by encouraging the usage
of them.
The balance between housing and tourism functions is essential. On the other hand, it is crucial to provide property
owners who wish to make a change in their property functions to apply the mixed-use as a residence-hotel. To make the
local people aware of tourism activities, the regulation of education programmes will also prevent the abandonment of
these sites. The institutions responsible for designing and implementing the programs to be created for public awareness
and education are expected to be the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism and the Governorship of Nevşehir.
The Center, Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Mustafapaşa, Ürgüp and Avanos municipalities, the Ahiler Development
Agency, the Ahi Evran Association (AHDER) planned to be established, and the relevant non-governmental organizations,
banks, and exchanges are the institutions responsible for providing information, evaluation, and coordination.
In the process of planning and implementing the project, when the staging is performed, the process has been defined as
determining priority action zones for conservation and restoration in the short term, and in the medium term, creating
programs, projects and financial resources in the designated action fields. In a short time, applications will be performed
in Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Mustafapaşa, Ürgüp, and Avanos. The anticipated impact of the project is that the city
centers become continuously used areas, both socially and physically, again.
Another reason for physical decay in the built environment is natural disasters. In the area afflicted with a natural disaster,
first, the risk identification will be made to identify the geological risk. The aim of the action plan prepared for cultural
landscape and built environment degradation arising from disasters is to make efficient risk management. Two types of
problems are defined as human and natural resources in disaster-prone physical decay areas. It is planned to solve humaninduced issues with the method of strengthening the community. Rock falls, erosion (soil, water, wind) and climatic factors
(humidity, temperature, precipitation) that occur due to natural reasons constitute a hazard in terms of conservation of
cultural landscape area. With risk management, it is aimed to minimize the impact of rock fall in the site.
In this context, the planned actions are;
● For risky areas in the field of study (erosion, climatic factors, rock fall), creating a 1/10.000 scaled zoning map,
● Preparation of detailed geological maps of 1/2.000 and 1/1.000 scale,
● Systematic monitoring of disaster areas by hand and automatic system (through decision support systems and
geographical information system).
With the realization of these actions, both the zones of rock fall will be determined, and the gradient of rock fall will be
determined. Using Decision Support Systems (GIPEA) and geographic information system (GIS), modeling and
monitoring of rock fall in 3D will be provided. These systems will give early warning and forecast. Thus, an integrated
system will be set against the danger of falling rock in the zone, and the damage will be reduced to a minimum. Besides,
the identification of the cultural heritage sites at risk and the installation of the necessary conservation practices in the
settlements will be ensured according to the situation of the risk. The intended risk management in the site will be
implemented first in the disaster area, Ortahisar.
The institutions responsible for the realization of these projects are the Site Management Presidency, Special Provincial
Administration, Nevşehir Municipality, Ortahisar Municipality, Governorship Provincial Disaster, and Emergency
Directorate, Disaster Coordination Center and Non-governmental organizations.
3.5.3. Impact of tourism on local community and local values
Among the policies of sustainable development of the Rio Declaration, which preserves the integrity of the global,
environmental and developmental system are as follows; “Indigenous people and their communities, and other local
communities, have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their knowledge and
traditional practices. States should recognize and duly support their identity, culture and interests and enable their
effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development.” [10]. The most significant impact of the
development of tourism is on the local community. The two main reasons for this are that they are steering away from
their own culture through communication and interaction with the visitors and leave their locality to tourism thus they
are unable to transfer intangible cultural values to future generations. Therefore, it is seen as a necessity to integrate the
local community into the work of sustainability and even adopt policies that center the local community.
In addition to minimizing the negative impacts of tourism on the site, proposals have been developed in order to avail a
sustainable economic benefit from tourism. First of all, concerning the development of local capacity and labor and skills,
it is aimed to ensure awareness about the potentials of local people through widespread tourism and cultural education
activities. In this context, personal development seminars, cooperation seminars, certificate-dotation/credit programs for
the support of women entrepreneurs are essential to prepare and implement. In order to transform cultural values into
economic value, it is recommended to implement home-staying, consciousness raising, and on-the-job certification
programs and to ensure quality improvement for the sector that implements these programs in the current situation. Also,
the provision of kitchen and sanitation training for local food production and the organization of local tour guide
education programmes will contribute to the economic income of the local community from tourism. Actions designated
in this context are listed below:
● Ensuring the sustainability of the model by ensuring the employment of the educated young population
● Integration of rural populations into the organization through “indigenous” and trust relationship
● Redefining/introducing/marketing the identity of the site with active conversation
● Dissemination of tourism culture by ensuring sectoral sustainability
● The sustainability of cultural heritage and ensuring local development
● To prevent physical decaying and to ensure the sustainability of the values owned by the physically decayed built
environment
Natural values and agricultural production in the site allow rural tourism activities. In this context, it is planned to set a
database for determining suitable areas for rural tourism by collaborating with the Cappadocia Rural Development
Cooperative (3K-KOOP) which is planned to be established. In these sites, it is aimed to provide support to the regional
investor who meets the grant and credit facility requirements in line with the database. In this process, it is of considerable
significance to re-introduce the site by participating in national and international fair-assembly and symposiums.
In order to effectuate these actions, tourism cooperatives can be established in Uçhisar, Mustafapaşa, Ürgüp, Avanos,
Ortahisar settlements and facilitated with Nevşehir Center, which is determined as marketing and information center
between each other. This coordination can be established with the “Association of Tourism Cooperatives,” which will be
carried out under the administration of the Ahiler Development Agency. Thus, it can contribute to the maximum level of
information flow at the local level.
The development of social carrying capacity has been identified as the first stage of Education-Supervision-Coordination
Centers, both because of the rural tourism potential and the conformity of infrastructure in order to proceed forward with
local development. Thus, it is planned to regulate rural tourism actions in the Ürgüp sub-region by a local organization.
The Mustafapaşa settlement was identified as a rural sub-center, and the İbrahimpaşa village was identified as a rural
coordinating center. Avanos and Hacıbektaş, one of the other subregions, were considered as the second level of the
Education-Supervision-Coordination Centre. The institutions responsible for the realization of the projects are the
Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Governorship of Nevşehir, the District Governorship of Nevşehir and
the Development Agency of Ahiler. The institutions and organizations to cooperate with are the Provincial Cooperative
of Nevşehir, NGOs, Municipalities and the Chamber of Merchants and Artisans of Nevşehir.
In the area, the integration of cultural heritage and rural tourism is vital in terms of the fact that the local people do not
abandon the area and that the benefits of tourism are degraded to the local scale. In this context, first of all, the
improvement of transportation, electricity and water infrastructure in rural areas will contribute to the enhancement of
the quality of life of the local community and the provision of more qualified tourism service. Another proposed project
for the integration of the local population into tourism is the dissemination of the home staying model in rural settlements
and the dwellings currently being implemented; education is carried out to increase the quality. With the project, first of
all, tangible and intangible cultural heritage sites will be determined, and technical infrastructure opportunities will be
developed in these sites. Also, restoration and conservation of monumental structures and civil architecture models in
rural areas will provide the sustainability of these sites.
Within the scope of the project, the proposed rural tourism axle and rural areas with cultural heritage structures will be
interrelated. In this context, “rural service centre”, which has potential in terms of technical and social infrastructure, has
been determined at a distance of about 20 km from each other. The contents of the rural service centres are fictionalized as
accommodation units, home stayings, health services, crafts shops, and commercial units. On this route, trekking, horse
safari, and bicycle sports are planned. All these activities are intended to be coordinated at the Ürgüp Center on a local
scale. The other settlements that are subject to the rural tourism proposal are the Central Districts of Nevşehir province
and the districts of Gülşehir and Avanos. In the context of the projects, the institutions to be cooperated will be the Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, European
Union (EU), United Nations (UN), Provincial Private Administrations, Local Governments, Non-governmental
Organizations and EuroGites-European Federation of Rural Tourism (Table 3).
Table 3. The association between cultural and natural heritage and local development
PROBLEM
🗶
ALIENATION OF LOCAL PEOPLE FROM THE SITE
OBJECTIVE
⮚ SUSTAINABILITY OF CULTURAL AND NATURAL
HERITAGE
⮚ PROVIDING LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
Evaluation Of Existing
Potentials
● Tangible-Intangible Cultural
Heritage
● Natural Formations-Fairy
Chimneys
● Protected Areas
● Religious Center-Church
● Pottery
● Onyx Stonework
● Agricultural ProductionGrape
● Local Dishes
● Festivals
⮚ Commemoration of Hacı
Bektaş Veli
⮚ Ürgüp Vineyard
⮚ Avanos Handicrafts
CULTURAL HERITAGE - RURAL TOURISM
INTEGRATION
Project Activities
● Improving Infrastructure Services
⮚ Transportation-Electricity-Water
● Educational Studies
⮚ For Traditional Manufacturing Types
⮚ For Tourism Services
⮚ For Creating Conservation
Awareness
● Festivals
● Workshops For Tourists
● Network System-Tourism AxlesTrekking
● Bicycle-Horse Rider Routes
● Maintenance-Repair-Restoration Works
● Tourist Reception Points-GuidesAdvertising Activities
● Home Staying
Project stakeholders and funds
● The United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
⮚ Global Environment Facility's (GEF)
Small Grants Programme (SGP)
● EU- The Instrument for Pre-Accession
Assistance in Rural Development
(IPARD)
● EuroGites
● Ministry of Culture and Tourism
● Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
● Ministry of Environment and
Urbanization
● Special Provincial Administration
● Rural Tourism Programme At National
Level
● Local Governments
● Cooperatives
● Non-Governmental Organizations
As a result of the synthesis study, it was concluded that the problem of ‘local people moving away from the heritage site’
was caused by the following reasons:
● Economic deficiencies,
● Gaining economic accretion by entering the site on the UNESCO World Heritage List,
● Projects and plans in the heritage areas of physical decay,
● In the settlements of Mustafapaşa and Uçhisar, planning decisions provide opportunities for tourism purposes that
distort the cultural landscape and the identity of the area.
In order to meet the needs and expectations of the people living in the site in line with national and international criteria
and to increase the efficiency of the service delivery, it is necessary to investigate the sufficiency of existing municipal
services and facilities. Also, in order to improve the quality of the urban environment, researches need to be done on the
balance of conservation with socio-economic and vital needs.
In order for cultural assets to be conserved with their physical, social and economic dimensions, physically decayed areas
need to be mentioned in rehabilitation projects. In order to carry out the original restoration and conservation practices, it
is essential to establish restoration specialist trainee programs. The development of programs aimed at training mentor
and protege in the work of restoration will ensure that cultural values are conserved with indigenous understanding.
The institutions and organizations responsible for these projects are as follows: Field Management Presidency, Nevşehir
Governorship, Ortahisar Municipality, Avanos Municipality, Ürgüp Municipality, Uçhisar Municipality, and universities
as well as Nevşehir Regional Council for the Conservation of Cultural Property, neighborhood mukhtars, trade
associations, and related NGOs.
3.5.4. The resilience of cultural heritage structures to the visitors
Bölgede turizm tesis sayılarında hızla artış yaşanması, zamanla el değiştirerek otele dönüşen konut işlevli yapıların ve bu
dönüşüm sürecinde butik otel yapımına olan eğilimin artması, bölgenin mevcut değerlerinin korunmasını ve
algılanmasını engellemektedir. The projects to prevent these changes and solve the problems encountered are as follows:
● Making accommodation facilities mandatory for the maximum amount of urban fabric with both local and upper scale
planning decisions/plan notes
● To prevent tourism facilities from going beyond the local architectural scale by introducing a total area of construction
restrictions to accommodation facilities
Especially in Avanos and Uçhisar, it is observed that with the increasing growth of hotel masses, the perceptibility of the
area is disappearing and large mass hotels do not conform to the texture of the area, although they are applicable as
materials.
In order to prevent hotels that do not reflect the original structure of the site, it is envisaged that the planning notes and
decisions will determine the maximum dimension of the hotels and that implementations will be blocked out of a specific
scale and thus, integrity will be provided in the area.
Within the scope of the projects, the proposal for the restrictions to be executed was determined as “tourism-oriented
conservation facility” projects. In determining these restrictions, firstly, existing typologies have been identified. Later,
typologies were determined following the texture of the site. While the existing size of the hostel has a bed capacity of 1015 rooms and 20-30 beds, in order to support the facilities for home staying in rural areas, proposal boarding typography
has a capacity of 2-3 rooms and 4-6 beds, Building coverage ratio:0.50, Floor area ratio:1.00 and the number of employees
has been determined as 3 people. As the existing boutique hotel typology varies between 15-80 rooms and 30-160 beds
capacity in the site, the proposed boutique hotel typology has a maximum of 15 rooms and 30 beds, the average lot size
500 m2, floor area ratio:0,80 and the number of employees have been determined as six people. Hotels that address mass
tourism in the site are incompatible with the natural texture of the site. For this reason, for mass tourism accommodation
facilities with 50 rooms and 100 beds, the average lot size was determined as 1000 m2 in the resort structure. During the
planning and implementation of the projects, applications will be performed in Avanos, Uçhisar, Ürgüp, Göreme,
Ortahisar, and Mustafapaşa in the short term.
4. Spiral sensitivity development and governance model within the spatial strategic planning process in
Core Cappadocia
Sustainable cultural and natural heritage (SKDM) - focused “Spiral Sensitivity Development and Governance Model” was
designed by taking into account the sensitivities in the context of UNESCO World Heritage Areas and Turkey-
Integrated Urban Development Strategy and Action Plan (Table 4, Figure 6). The model is of great importance for the
creation of integrated administration, strategies, and policies to ensure the resilience of cultural heritage to time. 1/25.000
scaled environmental plan and 1/1.000 scaled conservation plans, and in the 2023 Turkish Tourism Strategy Report, it was
determined that there was no concurrence on tangible and intangible cultural heritage. It has been recognized that these
plans do not have both an integrated planning strategy and a necessary governance model. Furthermore, the lack of an
upper-scale spatial plan based on the environmental plan also leads to the determination of the main principles on a lower
scale. Based on the insufficiencies identified, a sustainable “Spiral Sensitivity Development and Governance Model” was
proposed. It is important to note that the model developed at the theoretical level can be implemented in project packages.
Sustainable administration of cultural and natural heritage sites is a model of sustainable relationships network and
communication-oriented development that strengthens risk perception and increases participation capacity at individual,
social and institutional levels. The relationship networks of stakeholders, constituencies, target groups, and concerned
parties have an approach where individual, social and institutional sensitivities are discussed at different levels, rather
than a centralized approach. The participation model in the Spiral Sensitivity considers the general structure and
transformation trends of the public administration. Participation in the model is considered as a concept that complements
and improves the insufficiencies of the representative system. In short, it can be stated that an approach that improves
existing mechanisms and tries to define new mechanisms according to new needs has been adopted.
From the perspective of the dimension of the participation, it is possible to state that an approach that avoids the point-topoint technique is adopted. However, in existing practices, participation in the conduct of business and operations of local
administrations can only be perceived as point-by-point [11]. For example, while developing plans for conservation of
protected areas are being executed, at least two participatory meetings are required following the legislation; however, it
is observed that these meetings are being carried out for the sake of the procedure. However, participation and jointly
administration should be perceived as a focus, not as part of the process.
The cooperation of local administrations within the extent of the working area, higher education institutions such as
Hacibektaş University and Cappadocia University, Non-Governmental Organizations, Ahiler Development Agency,
professional organizations, and other organized establishments is of great importance to ensure deploy of resources and
accelerated operation of institutional decision-making processes. It is key to the evaluation of the current potentials of the
local people through the mentioned institutions and organizations and to play an active and productive role in the
development process.
In line with the central approaches mentioned above, the model is exemplified in the Core Cappadocia Site, which aims to
convey cultural and natural heritage to future generations with the least loss. It is possible to state that the settlements of
Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Mustafapaşa, Ürgüp, and Avanos, which constitute the study field, have various layers at
individual, social and corporate levels, and this situation is anticipated to contribute to the solution of the existing
problems.
On the other hand, in the field of work, it has been observed that the local people cannot transform their accumulation of
knowledge and experience, about the tangible and intangible cultural heritage into a sustainable economic benefit at the
local level. The proposal of a settlement that provides the local people the opportunity to market their products in both
local and national and international markets also reflect the corporate culture that is already existing in our culture.
Table 4. Sustainable cultural and natural heritage (SKDM) policies, general strategies and main problem areas
MAIN PROBLEM AREAS
Sustainability
Integrity
Reconciliatio
n and
participation
Visionary
SKDM Increasing individual, social and
institutional sensitivity
Contribution to participatory processes
in the administration of SKDM to
increase the capacity
Transparency and accountability
Municipal project production and
implementation
Local Councils
Regulation Of Participation At National
Level
Regional Participation
Strategic Management
Spatial Strategic Planning
Inspection
GENERAL STRATEGIES
POLICIES
Sustainability
Sustainability
Integrity
Participation
Visionary
Participation
Participation
Visionary
Integrity
Sustainability
Learning from
experience,
ensuring local
development
Giving
importance to
education,
capacity and
sensitivity
development
Participation
incentive
and
communicati
on-oriented
reconciliatio
n
administrati
on
Effective and
sustainable
projects with
transparency
and
accountability
Improving
knowledge,
giving
attention to
information
network and
communicatio
n
Figure 6. ”SKDM" focused BTK sensitivity: sustainable relationships network local development model
5. Conclusion
The conservation approach has emerged as a result of the administration's ' desire to “naturally” inherit a diverse and
“productive” world for future generations [12]. Climate change, propensity to consume, urbanization and the desire to
generate economic income create pressure on cultural and natural values, which is regarded as the main reason for this
outcome [12]. Core Cappadocia Site, consisting of the synthesis of cultural, natural and economic values, has socioeconomic reflections both in Nevşehir province and all over the country. However, the original natural structure of the
site and its tangible and intangible cultural values are threatened by inadequate tourism policies.
In this study, fieldwork which was concluded with analysis, synthesis and zoning approach was carried out, and all the
sensitivity of the site was determined, and the sensitivities were tried to interfere with the planning approach. As the work
area is a World Heritage Site, the planning approach and actions have been prepared based on management plans, in
which UNESCO sets a precondition for the preparation concerning World Heritage sites. To develop the phenomenon of
being organized in community, which is found to be inadequate in the site, participation and governance were taken into
consideration in the model; it was also aimed to stimulate the self-assessment mechanism of community.
The “Spiral Sensitivity Model” proposed within the scope of the study emphasizes an approach in which the future use of
cultural and natural tourism values consumed today is conserved with “governance”. Thus, in decision-making processes
in the tourism sector, it will be possible to ensure that mechanisms for center-local-civil participants operate jointly. It must
be determined which budget the responsible institutions and organizations will use to implement the actions and projects
identified. Also, the determination of funding institutions makes the spatial strategic plan applicable.
In this study, the “Spatial Strategic Plan” approach, which was successful in building the relationship of organizational
form with physical space, was taken into consideration. In the current situation, a spatial strategy plan is preliminarily
provided at the country scale, but there are no approved examples of a spatial strategy plan. Therefore, it is envisaged that
the work will contribute to the future work of the planning authorities and it is also the innovative aspect of the work.