CITTASLOW PHILOSOPHY AND
SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURISM IN TATVAN
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. CITTASLOW PHILOSOPHY IN THE WORLD AND TURKEY
1.1. Cittaslow in the World and Turkey
1.2. Requirements for a Cittaslow
2. TATVAN AS A POTENTIAL CITTASLOW CANDIDATE
3.1. Methodology of the Research
3.2. Results of the Research
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION
Cittaslow
was conceived as a movement to prevent or slow the negative effects of the
processes of modernisation such as loss of historic heritage, swift consumption
of natural resources and a decrease in renewal capacity, oblivion and/or neglect
of socio-cultural values and, in this context, traditions. Therefore,
Cittaslow, consisting of an Italian word ‘citta’ and an English word ‘slow’,
meaning ‘slow city’, can be assessed as a philosophy.
This
philosophy, aiming at constituting places which are at peace with their
history, nature, and socio-cultural values, is directly related to sustainable
tourism development (STD) because of such features. In fact, all cities which
adopt and practise this philosophy are simultaneously implementing STD.
In this paper, potential Cittaslow candidateship of Tatvan
is studied. The paper consists of three sections: in the first, some
information concerning Cittaslow practices in the world and Turkey is offered.
In the second section, Cittaslow candidateship of Tatvan is proposed and its
potential capacity with regard to the realisation of STD is assessed through
the extensive data collection. In the last section, a comparative descriptive
analysis is made to assess the appropriateness of Tatvan to be
Cittaslow.
1. CITTASLOW
PHILOSOPHY IN THE WORLD AND TURKEY
1.1. Cittaslow in the
World and Turkey
‘Cittaslow’ is also the name of a movement. As an initiative
launched in 1999 by Paolo Saturnini, mayor of Greve in Chianti in Toscana region
in Italy, it introduces some standards and action plans to constitute tranquil
and peaceful cities and leads the cities to put them into effect. Cittaslow, in
this context, as a movement aiming at the development of a city in a different
style by improving life quality has been supported by some other mayors in
Italy and started its activities through contribution of Slow Food
Organization.
As a global, non-profit member-supported association founded
in 1989 with supporters in 160 countries around the world as of midst of 2014
which are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their
community and the environment, Slow Food counters the rise of fast food and
fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest
in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how their food
choices affect the rest of the world. Slow Food stands at the crossroads of
ecology and gastronomy, ethics and pleasure. It opposes the standardization of
taste and culture, and the unrestrained power of the food industry
multinationals and industrial agriculture. Slow Food states its mission as
“promoting good, clean, and fair food for all”. Slow Food has over 100,000
members joined in 1,500 convivia (local chapters who promote the philosophy of
the organization) as well as a network of 2,000 food communities (who practice
small-scale and sustainable production of quality foods). As of half of
One of the main aims of Cittaslow is to disperse the
philosophy of Slow Food to local communities and also to their administrations
and thus to provide the implementation of the concept ‘Ecogastronomy’ in daily
life. Ecogastronomy, in brief, refers to a nourishment style which is in peace
with the environment. The Latin term ‘eco’ refers to how organisms relate to their
environment and, according to food philosopher Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
who says “The destiny of nations depends on how they nourish themselves”,
‘gastronomy’ is the intelligent knowledge of whatever concerns man’s
nourishment. Sue Muncaster, a convivium leader of Slow Food in the
Tetons-Idaho-USA, is the establisher of Ecogastronomy Initiative. The guiding
principle of the initiative is that there is a direct connection between how
food is produced and consumed and the physical, environmental, and
socio-political dilemmas facing the modern world. In response to
industrialization’s destruction of people’s health, the environment, and
communities, the Ecogastronomy Initiative was formed to motivate people to live
by the principles that will guide them toward a delicious, diverse, healthy,
humane, and sustainable future (Ecogastronomy Initiative, 2014).
Consequently, the cities who take part in Cittaslow movement
endeavours to effectuate the following main principles:
- They
are mindful of public health and in this context they care for the
procurement of healthy products and food.
- They
encourage the maintenance of traditional local handicrafts,
- They
improve their city by constructing needed
squares, theatres, shopping centres, coffee houses, and restaurants
without harming its underlying structure and atmosphere,
- They are respectful of
traditions which provide a tranquil life style.
As of early June 2014, number of Cittaslow members is 187
cities, 75 of which is in Italy, in 28 countries. Their names in alphabetical
order are; Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, England,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and
the USA.
Cittaslow Movement having a Scientific Committee including
scientists from different countries assesses a city which applies for being a
Cittaslow in accordance with the determined criteria and accepts it as a member
if meets the requirements. Cittaslow does not interest only in the concepts ‘Slow
City’ and ‘ecogastronomy’ but also studies on related projects such as climate
change, environmental sustainability, sustainable eco-systems, economic
performance and social development, and sustainable energy (Cittaslow
Association, 2014-a).
The first Cittaslow
member in
1) Perşembe
(Ordu;
2) Taraklı
(Sakarya; Marmara Region)
3) Vize
(Kırklareli; Marmara Region)
4) Gökçeada
(Çanakkale; Marmara Region)
5) Seferihisar
(İzmir, Aegegan Region)
6) Yenipazar
(Aydın; Agean Region)
7) Akyaka
(Muğla; Aegean Region)
8) Yalvaç
(Isparta;
9) Halfeti
(
These cities
are marked on the map of
Figure 1: Cittaslows in Turkey (June 2014)
New candidates are going through the necessary procedures
for membership. However, as will be seen, current Cittaslow members are mostly
in the western regions of Turkey and no member or candidate city, with the
exceptions of Perşembe of Ordu in the Central Black Sea Region and Halfeti of
Urfa in the South-East Anatolia Region, is situated in the central or eastern
regions of the country.
1.2. Requirements for a Cittaslow
There are a lot of requirements to become a Cittaslow and
such requirements are updated in time. Here, the requirements stated in the
Association’s charter shall be taken into account. These are 59 ones and are
classified under 6 major subjects namely environment, safeguarding
autochthonous production, infrastructure, technologies and facilities for urban
quality, hospitality and awareness plus support to slow food
activities/projects (Cittaslow Association, 2014-b). Here some of them will be
quoted as of each major subject. Following each section, the relation of the
stated requirements with STD shall be be revealed.
Table 1-I: Major Requirements for Cittaslow Membership in
terms of STD
|
Major Subject |
Requirement |
|
I-Environmental Policies |
1.
Verification of the quality of air, water, and soil under the
parameters established by law, 2.
Existing purification facilities for urban or collective sewage, 3.
Preparation of projects that stimulate the collection of urban and private
wastes by decomposing them, 4.
Encouraging the recycling/safe disposal of industrial waste and the
composting of household waste, 5.
Preparation of a municipal plan for saving energy, with particular
reference to the use of alternative sources of energy (renewable resources,
green hydrogen, mini-hydroelectric power plant), 6.
Banning the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in
agriculture, 7.
Establishing systems for controlling and reducing electromagnetic,
noise, and light pollution, 8.
Adoption of environmental management systems (EMAS and ECOLABEL or ISO
9001; ISO 14000, SA 8000 etc.). |
These requirements are directly related to STD. In this
context, air, water, soil, sewage, waste, energy, agricultural production, and pollution
(electromagnetic, noise, light, and environmental) are taken into
consideration.
Table 1-II: Major Requirements for Cittaslow Membership in
terms of STD
|
Major Subject |
Requirement |
|
II-Safeguarding Autochthonous Production |
1.
Promoting organic and/or locally planted products, 2.
Determining local products and supporting them for their commercial
value e.g. alloting them spaces in the bazaars, 3.
Preserving and encouraging cultural traditions, 4.
Preparing relevant planning and certification programmes for saving
tradesmen, craftsmen, and working methods/products which are in danger of
dying out. |
Organic farming, local products, tradesmen and craftsmen
products, traditional professions and working methods and cultural traditions are
among the main requirements for STD.
Table 1-III: Major Requirements for Cittaslow Membership in
terms of STD
|
Major Subject |
Requirement |
|
III-Infrastructural Policies |
1.
Preparation of plans for developing and improving historic centres and/or
works of cultural and historic value, 2.
Making plans for safe transportation and traffic, 3.
Promotion of programmes to facilitate family life and local
activities, 4.
Applying programmes for redevelopment and improvement of urban life, 5.
Preparation of plans for the distribution of merchandise and the
construction of commercial centres for natural products. |
Almost all of these requirements are also related to STD.
The matters which have direct relation are historical/cultural centers, transportation,
facilitating programmes, reutilization of urban areas, and promotion of natural
products.
Table 1-VI: Major Requirements for Cittaslow Membership in
terms of STD
|
Major Subject |
Requirement |
|
IV-Technologies and Facilities for Urban Quality |
1.
Providing wastebins consistent with environmental requirements and
removal of rubbish in accordance with an announced timetable, 2.
Arranging programmes and promotional activities for planting
environmentally suitable plants, preferably local ones, 3.
Making plans to brighten up the urban
landscape e.g. flowers in house, window boxes, and gardens; hanging
baskets and green spaces in public places; and clean, fresh paintwork on
buildings. |
The requirements concerning wastebin, planting, and urban landscape
show direct relation to STD.
Table 1-V: Major Requirements for Cittaslow Membership in
terms of STD
|
Major Subject |
Requirement |
|
V-Hospitality |
1.
Carrying out training courses on the provision of tourist information
and quality hospitality, 2.
Using international signs on signboards at historic places, 3.
Arranging the ‘slow’ routes of the city. |
For STD, hospitality is a vitally important factor. First of
all, it is required to attract tourists for relevant activities. When these services
are executed with a kind hospitality, it will be possible to sustain its
development. Therefore; quality hospitality, multi-lingual signboards, and
suitable reception policies are among important requirements.
Table 1-VI: Major Requirements for Cittaslow Membership in
terms of STD
|
Major Subject |
Requirement |
|
VI-Awareness |
1.
Informing people about the aims and procedures of Cittaslow and how to
become such a city, 2.
Preparation of programmes to attract social interest in acquiring the ‘slow’
philosophy, and the application of Cittaslow projects such as educational
gardens, parks, and libraries, 3.
Preparation of training programmes in schools on taste and nutrition
in collaboration with the Slow Food Initiative. |
Sustainability of tourism development necessitates also
awareness of people living in a city. For this purpose, various activities
could be organized and, therefore, the stakeholders could be involved in the
related actions.
2. TATVAN AS A POTENTIAL CITTASLOW
CANDIDATE
To be named a Cittaslow, the criteria whose detailed
information in terms of its sub-elements have been given under the previous
title are required for a city. In this context, to summarize, the following
main policies should be implemented in a candidate city:
a) Some environmental policies should be implemented,
b) Local production should be preserved,
c) Some infrastructural policies should be implemented,
d) Certain level of technologies and facilities for urban
quality should be obtained,
e) Hospitality should be kept in the center of
public/private administrative/commercial services.
It is obvious that for a city to be named a Cittaslow,
drastic changes should be realized. Moreover, sustainability of the changes is
also very important. In this context, implementation and sustainability of a
Cittaslow project is not only the responsibility of the administrators of that
location but also of the whole persons and institutions living there.
In this paper, considering the requirements of Cittaslow
philosophy, alternatively the following main criteria have been taken into
account when selecting the candidate cities:
- Historical
Background: A candidate city is supposed to be a historical one,
- Natural
Structure: A candidate city is supposed to have natural sources and
beauties,
- Socio-Cultural
Features: A candidate city is supposed to have various traditional values
and heritages,
- Tourism
Structure: A candidate city is supposed to have a touristic potential.
Essentially, these criteria are not very much different from
those determined by the Cittaslow Initiative, being regarded as a compressed
version of them.
Here, Tatvan is offered as a potential Cittaslow candidate.
For this purpose, candidateship of Tatvan is offered under these four main
criteria, namely: historic structures, natural resources, socio-cultural
values, and touristic capacities. In this context, and with
particular importance being given to these four major criteria, extensive data
on Tatvan is presented
in a table and its Cittaslow capacity revealed. For making
comparison, initially the same table is prepared for the first Cittaslow of
Turkey, Seferihisar.
Seferihisar,
a town of İzmir, was the first Cittaslow in Turkey and is, therefore, called
‘The Cittaslow Capital of Turkey’. This historic and touristic city is very
lively, full of various socio-cultural activities and accommodates 33,588
people as of 2013 (ADNKS, 2014).
Table 2:
Seferihisar as the First Cittaslow in Turkey
|
Criteria |
Explanation |
|
I-History |
·
It has a 4,000 year-old history. ·
Ruling civilizations: Cretans,
Ionians, Etruscans, Lydians, Iranians, Athenians, Spartans, Pergamons,
Macedonians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Aydınoğuls,
Ottomans, and Mongols. |
|
II-Natural Structure |
·
It has a typical Mediterranean
climate. ·
It has a rich flora including a
typical Mediterranean plant, namely Maki, and forest trees such as rosebay,
red pine, and oak, as well as cultivated plants such as olive and citrus, ·
There is a specific local flower
namely Kum Zambağı (Sand Lily). ·
It has an indented coastline at
the Aegean Sea for 60 km. However, the city centre is five km. far from the
sea. ·
Fishing is one of the important
economic activities. ·
300 of 365 days are sunny and the
city is rich in thermal energy sources and has strong wind corridors. |
|
III-Socio- Cultural Features |
·
Major traditional handicrafts:
tile (ceramic) arts, wood painting, string bag weaving, and production of
various hand-made giftwares. ·
Local traditional foods/drinks:
Damla Sakızlı Tatlı, Lok Lok, Çalkalama ve Balıklama, Ekmek Dolması, Oğlak
Dolması, Kuzu Dolması, Seferihisar Nohutlu Mantısı, Enginar Dolması, Labada
Dolması, Yuvalaça Köfte, Peygamber Balıklı Pilav, Çekme Makarna, Ispanak Balıklama,
Armola Peyniri, Mandalina Tatlısı, Samsades Tatlısı, Cevizli Oklavadan
Sıyırma Tatlısı, Tarhana (Kızılhisarlı Çorbası), Adabeyi Balık Çorbası, and
Tatlı Tarhana. ·
There are some specific local
branded varieties of food. Among them are Satsuma Balı (tangerine honey) and
Seferihisar Enginarı (artichokes). |
|
IV-Tourism Capacity |
·
Major historic buildings: Sığacık
Castle, Güdük Minare Mosque, Hıdırlık Mosque, Turabiye Mosque, Ulu Mosque,
Sığacık Bath, Kasım Çelebi Madrasah, Şehitler Fountain, Beyler Aquaduct,
Cumalı Hot Spring, Güneşlikent Tumulus, Teos Ancient City, Lebedos Ancient
City, Karaköse Ruins, and Myonnesos Island. ·
It has a 400 capacity yacht port. ·
Potential touristic activities:
yachting, cycling, and trekking. ·
Seferihisar is very reliant on
touristic activities which contribute importantly to the economy of the city. ·
75 accomodation facilities with
6,167 bedspaces are available. |
Sources:
·
·
District Governorship of
Seferihisar, “Seferihisar”, http://www.seferihisar.gov.tr,
06.01.2013.
· Şahinkaya, Serdar, “Bir Yerel
Kalkınma Modeli: Cittaslow ve Seferihisar Üzerine Değerlendirmeler”, http://www.seferihisar.bel.tr, 06.01.2013.
Tatvan, a
town of Bitlis, lies on the banks of Lake Van. Historically it was a
multi-cultural city and currently has a population of 84,163 as of 2013 (ADNKS,
2014).
Table 3:
Tatvan as a Cittaslow Candidate
|
Criteria |
Explanation |
|
I-History |
·
It has 5,000 year old history. ·
Ruling civilizations: Subars, Huris,
Hittites, Urartus, Assyrians, Iranians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks,
Harzemşahs, İlhanlıs, Akkoyunlus, and Ottomans. |
|
II-Natural Structure |
·
A very large part of the land is
mountainous and mountain pasture. ·
It has a continential climate. ·
At Mount
Nemrut, the highest point of the town, there are two lakes one of which has
hot water and the other, cold water. There are also a number of hot air
flushing crater chimneys. ·
Tatvan has a 100 km. shore on Lake
Van which extends over 3,713 km2 and has an eco-system different from both
fresh and sea water with salinity of 0.19 percent and pH of 9.8. In the soda
water lake around 103 types of phyloplankton, 36 kinds of zooplankton and one
unique variety of fish [İnci Kefalı (Chalcalburnus Tarichi)] live. ·
It has the Harmanlı Waterfall
whose water comes from spring rain and snow. There, where the waterfall
reaches the lake, big shoals of fish can be seen. ·
The
Sapur Spring Water is surrounded by an immense flora. The water is extremely
cold and the spring area is used as a promenade. |
|
III-Socio- Cultural Features |
·
Different ethnic groups live in
the town. ·
Families are generally extended. ·
Although
they are no longer strong, there are still some tribes in the area. ·
Local traditional foods/drinks: Şekalok,
Çorti Köftesi, Büryan Kebabı, Katıklı Dolma, Glorik, Gebol, Çireş Pancarı,
Kengerli Pilav, Keledoş, Helise, Ciğer Tablaması, Halim Aşı, Keşkek, Tutmanç
Aşı, Gari Aşı, Ayran Aşı, Çorti Aşı, and Turşu Aşı. |
|
IV-Tourism Capacity |
·
Inventory of historic buildings:
11 castles, five mosques, four caravanserais, two cupolas, two fountains, two
bridges, three houses, four caves, and 54 churches. ·
Major historic buildings: Tatvan
Castle, Kalekıran Castle, El-Aman (Rahva) Caravanserai, Abdulcelil Behtani
Tomb, Hüseyin Dede (Bapir-i Kal) Tomb, Kotum Baba (Abdullah bin Derare) Tomb,
Urartu Rock Vault, Küçüksu (Kotum) Graveyard, Dalda Köyü Graveyard, Tokaçlı
Köyü (Paşaelmalı) Graveyard, Göllü Ovası S.George Monastery, and Tuğ Church. ·
It has skiing facilities. ·
Potential touristic activities:
trekking, mountaineering, cave tourism, skiing, and botanical tours. ·
There are 13 accommodation
facilities with 834 bedspaces. |
Sources:
· Municipality of Tatvan, “Tatvan”, http://www.tatvan.bel.tr, 08.01.2013.
·
District
Governorship of Tatvan, “Tatvan”, http://www.tatvan.gov.tr, 08.01.2013.
These information show that Tatvan has the potential of
Cittaslow candidateship. For the appropriateness of Tatvan
to be Cittaslow, a comparative descriptive analysis is also made in the
following title.
3. A COMPARATIVE DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS FOR CURRENT AND POTENTIAL CITTASLOWS
IN TURKEY
3.1. Methodology of the Research
In this study, a comparative descriptive analysis is made.
Thus, in consideration of the requirements to become a Cittaslow, an indices
table has been prepared by which Seferihisar and Tatvan are assessed.
The purpose of the indexing is:
- to
check the situation of Seferihisar in order to make comparisons;
- to
reveal the barriers to Cittaslow membership;
- and
to assess the appropriateness or unsuitability for candidateship of
Tatvan.
For collection of information on Seferihisar and Tatvan, their
mayors/governors were contacted via an e-mail/phone/mail survey and asked to
answer 26 questions under six main subject headings. The results are available
in Table 4 for indexing.
Table 4:
Index Calculation for for Seferihisar and Tatvan in terms of Cittaslow
Requirements
|
Major
Subject |
Seferihisar |
Tatvan |
|
I-Environmental
Policies |
0.75 |
0.13 |
|
II-Safeguarding Autochthonous Production |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
III-Infrastructural Policies |
0.80 |
0.80 |
|
IV-Technologies and Facilities for Urban Quality |
1.00 |
0.33 |
|
V-Hospitality |
1.00 |
0.67 |
|
VI-Awareness |
0.67 |
0.67 |
|
Equal Weights |
0.87 |
0.60 |
An index score of ‘one’ represents full compatibility with Cittaslow
requirements, while a score of ‘zero’ represents no compatibility. Considering
these scores in the comparative descriptive analysis, the results of the index
constructed by using equal weights for each question.
3.2. Results of the Research
In this
descriptive analysis, it is ascertained that rankings for both cities are as
expected and are compatible with the assertion of the paper.
Equal weight
(87 percent) for Seferihisar show the expected ranking. As this city is already
Cittaslow it has the highest score. However, it can be seen that this city
could not get the full score (100 percent), which means that a candidate city
does not, in fact, have to meet the full requirements at the time of membership
acceptance, but endeavours to complete them in time.
Ranking for Tatvan is also as expected. The score for Tatvan
is 60 percent and this shows that it is a potential Cittaslow candidate.
However, Tatvan can not offer itself as a Cittaslow candidate as it fails to
meet the population criterion of the Cittaslow Initiative which is restricted
up to 50,000 residents.
Clearly the population criterion hinders the execution of
STD on a wider scale. If there were no such impediment the cities like Tatvan
could then be required to implement the Cittaslow philosophy and, in the medium
to long term, neighbouring cities would also be encouraged to become Cittaslow
candidates. It would then be possible to obtain a collective STD on a global
scale.
CONCLUSION
As expressed by the administrators of Cittaslow cities,
Cittaslow philosophy offers an extremely beneficial model for a city willing:
to be harmonic with itself and surrounding area; to be integrated with its
traditional values; to be respectful to nature and historical background; to
have a strong infrustructure; to have high level institutional connections and
collaborations; to have competitive power and environmental sustainability; and
to have a unique city structure beside its modernity.
Through extensive
data collected and comparative descriptive analysis established in this paper,
Tatvan is considered to have potential Cittaslow candidateship, however,
population criterion hinders it from being Cittaslow. As, by ignoring this
criterion, other factors: an established historic background, natural
resources, socio-cultural features, and touristic capacity are available for
Tatvan, it could be accepted as a candidate. Therefore, above mentioned
requirements could be considered sufficient at the first stage, following which
it could be expected to complete the determined requirements by the Cittaslow
Initiative. Thus, it would be easier to increase the number of Cittaslows and
execute STD systematically and rapidly.
* Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Behzat Ekinci
Economics, FEAS, Mardin Artuklu University.
** “Cittaslow Philosophy and Sustainability of Tourism
in Tatvan”, Ist International Bitlis Symposium, Proceedings, 95-107, Bitlis,
Turkey, 26-28 June 2014.
*** Prepared based on “Ekinci, Mehmet Behzat (2014),
The Cittaslow Philosophy in the Context of Sustainable Tourism Development; The
Case of Turkey, Tourism Management, 41:178-189
(http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.08.013).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ADNKS (Address Based Population Registration System of
Turkey), “Seferihisar, Tatvan”, http://tuikapp.tuik.gov.tr/adnksdagitapp/adnks.zul, 06.06.2014.
Cittaslow Association, “Association, Scientific Committee,
Network”, http://www.cittaslow.org, 03.06.2014-a.
Cittaslow Association, “Charter”, http://www.cittaslow.org/section/association/charter, 03.06.2014-b.
District
Governorship of Seferihisar, “Seferihisar”, http://www.seferihisar.gov.tr,
06.01.2013.
District Governorship of Tatvan, “Tatvan”, http://www.tatvan.gov.tr, 08.01.2013.
Ecogastronomy Initiative, “Ecogastronomy”, http://ecogastronomy.org, 03.06.2014.
Ekinci, Mehmet Behzat (2014). The Cittaslow Philosophy in
the Context of Sustainable Tourism Development; The Case of Turkey. Tourism Management, Elsevier, 41, 178-189 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.08.013).
Municipality of Tatvan, “Tatvan”, http://www.tatvan.bel.tr, 08.01.2013.
Slow Food Organization, “About Us; Our Network”, http://slowfood.com, 03.06.2014.
Şahinkaya, Serdar,
“Bir Yerel Kalkınma Modeli: Cittaslow ve Seferihisar Üzerine Değerlendirmeler”,
http://www.seferihisar.bel.tr, 06.01.2013.