Creative Tourism as Sustainable Initiative of a Coastal Destination

Abstract

The study examines tourist attractions and creative experiences of Fethiye, a coastal destination in Mugla, Turkey, based on theoretical overlaps in creative tourism. Creative tourism is suggested as an initiative for sustainability of local lifestyle, unique culture, and authenticity of Fethiye in this study. Therefore, the study was maintained with an exploratory and conceptual viewpoint. The results are presented as Fethiye's tourist attractions (13 categories) and creative experiences (six themes). The prominent creative experiences are specified as house wine, squeeze of olive, cheesemaking, mushroom (morel) picking, agriculture cultivation (local fruits and vegetables), Dastar weaving (geotagging product), carpet weaving (carpet of Kaya), wool spinning, local festivals, traditional bazaars, and soap making. Finally, a creative tour case was offered, and two creative tour routes were proposed in the appendix. The study revealed that creative tourism has importance for sustainability of authentic culture, responsible consumption, and economic development of the local community.