Therapeutic Effect of Touristic Activities with the Theme of Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Case of Bursa Karagöz Museum

Abstract

Culture-based values transferred to future generations are expressed as intangible cultural heritage. In addition to national initiatives to ensure the sustainability of cultural heritage, UNESCO carries out conservation, promotion and development studies. Karagöz play is also a cultural value in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Individuals who watch the Karagöz shadow play and participate in puppet making in the puppet workshop experience an activity with a cultural and artistic content. The aim of the research is to determine the reasons for the visitors, who have the experience of watching the Karagöz play and making puppets, which is an example of intangible cultural heritage, the reasons for spending time for this activity, their expectations before and their psychological state after the activity. In this context, first of all, cultural heritage, tourism, art and therapy subjects were examined conceptually and in-depth interviews were held with Bursa Karagöz museum visitors. The views of the visitors on the therapeutic effects of watching the Karagöz play and making puppetry were examined with qualitative research methods. Research findings indicate that visiting the Karagöz museum, which is a cultural heritage-themed visiting point, and the cultural and art-themed activities held here have a therapeutic effect on both children and adults. Participants stated that this touristic activity has an effect that stays in memory, makes one think, removes it from daily life, and increases motivation by making negative or stagnant moods positive.