An important workshop was organized to evaluate the “Çanakkale Strait Cultural Heritage Sea Navigation and Tour Route” project supported by the TÜBİTAK-1001 program and carried out by Prof. Dr. Erol Duran, and to develop its tourism potential. Representatives of public institutions and organizations as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the tourism sector in Çanakkale attended the workshop held on Monday, April 21, 2025 at the Çanakkale Municipality Culture Center.
Opening and “Cultural Heritage and Marine Tourism of the Dardanelles” Panel
The workshop began with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, and continued with opening speeches in which detailed information was provided about the project. Following the opening speeches, the first session of the workshop, a panel titled “Cultural Heritage of the Dardanelles and Marine Tourism”, was held. Moderated by Tourism Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Şefik Okan Mercan, the panel was attended by Prof. Dr. Erol Duran, who introduced the project with a comprehensive presentation. Also present at the panel were Çanakkale Wars Gallipoli Historical Site Presidency Site Management and Promotion Group Head Zeynel Bayseferoğulları, Troy Museum Director Rıdvan Gölcük, Çanakkale Municipality Cultural Affairs Director Özlem Eryiğit, Çanakkale Regional Tourist Guides President Ercan Yavuz, Çanakkale Tourist Hoteliers Association President Koray Özcan, Çanakkale Tourism and Promotion Association President Dr. Veysel Tolun, and Skal International Troy President Aşkın Değirmenci. While sharing their valuable opinions about the project, the panelists evaluated the current status of Çanakkale tourism and the rich cultural heritage potential of the region from various perspectives.
Detailed Evaluation of Desks
In the second session of the workshop, participants came together at three separate work tables under the titles of “Sustainability of Cultural Heritage and Presentation to Tourism”, “Sea Navigation and Tour Route Planning” and “Local Gastronomy within the Scope of Cultural Heritage”. At these work tables, critical issues such as the determination of the cultural heritage values of Çanakkale, the planning and management of the tour route to be created, the promotion strategies of the route, the integration of local gastronomic products into the tour route, the potential advantages and disadvantages of the tour route and the sustainability of the cultural heritage were discussed in detail. In addition, an intensive exchange of ideas was held on the work to be carried out within the scope of the project.
The workshop was successfully completed with valuable opinions and suggestions from the participants, providing significant contributions to the development of the project from a tourism perspective. The outputs are expected to contribute significantly to the more effective promotion of the unique cultural heritage of the Dardanelles through marine tourism and to the diversification of regional tourism.
