Relationship with sustainable tourism and urban onservation:Example of Kayseri Gesi Protection Zone

In the historical process, while shaping the physical environment in which human beings live within the framework of their needs, they transfer the culture they have created to the next future generations, thus creating a cultural accumulation that diversifies and enriches day by day. This accumulation is the concrete document that allows people to know their past. It is a fact that cultural values are world heritage and that their protection and immortalization are the responsibility of humanity. Among the problems of the examples that bring the historical environment into existence is the inability to continue the specific uses of the works due to economic and social conditions. The usage opportunities provided by tourism activities have an important role in preserving and maintaining cultural and natural values. Tourism is also important in terms of creating the necessary financial support when directed correctly and providing a motivation for conservation to host communities. However, tourism has negative effects as well as positive effects on the economy. Unplanned tourism can lead to the change, deterioration or even disappearance of the original qualities of environmental, historical and cultural values. The possibility of realization of these threats has led to the emergence of a sustainable tourism approach. In this study, it is aimed to protect the Kayseri Gesi Protection Zone (KGKB), which was selected as a sample area, in line with the principles of sustainable tourism. In the study, qualitative and quantitative researches were carried out using mixed method. Gesi Protection Zone (GKB) is located within the borders of Kuzey Quarter, Güney Quarter and Bahçeli Quarter of Melikgazi district, which is one of the central districts of Kayseri city. GKB was chosen because it is a cultural center that can carry the traces of different civilizations to the present day with its unique land structure. In this context, as a result of the field research and survey studies, the strengths and weaknesses and opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the region were analyzed. From the data obtained as a result of the research, it is stated that GKB has sustainable tourism potential; However, it was concluded that the touristic potential should be increased and for this reason, it is essential to ensure the feasibility of sustainable protection policies by establishing them in socio-cultural, environmental and economic dimensions.