Tourism-Led Development in the Cold War Era: Historic City as a Resource for the ‘Third World’

During the post-war era, tourism was recognized as a crucial sector for development, particularly in developing countries like Turkey that lacked significant industrialization but possessed rich natural and cultural heritage. The case study of Antalya, a historic coastal city in southern Turkey, exemplifies how both national and international dynamics played a role in the implementation of state-led projects aimed at utilizing tourism for development. International organizations, such as the World Bank, formulated various schemes to achieve development via tourism. However, it was the national institutions that turned these plans into action. In Turkey, this has been possible through the formulation of five-year development plans by public bodies. Furthermore, during this period, there was a shift in focus towards the conservation of entire historic areas, rather than solely individual buildings, aligning with international trends in heritage preservation. In Turkey, an expert committee gained bureaucratic power over decision-making processes concerning cultural heritage conservation. In 1973, they drafted a new law that enabled the designation of entire areas as conservation zones. Antalya’s old yacht harbor and the walled city were designated as such, with the objective of transforming them into a tourist center. This project entailed the establishment of a state-led tourism development initiative. Another significant investment came from the World Bank, which supported the South Antalya Tourism Development Project. However, the conservation efforts faced criticism due to their impact on residents and the living conditions within the designated areas. Construction restrictions imposed by the conservation plan led to discontent and posed threats to the inhabitants’ quality of life. Similar issues were observed in other designated sites across Turkey during the 1970s, highlighting the discrepancy between preservation standards and the actual living conditions experienced by local communities. Overall, the case study of Antalya exemplifies the complex interplay between state-led development efforts, tourism, heritage conservation, and the social impact on local communities during the Cold War era.