Aydın Yöresi Gencer Geleneğinin Kültür Turizmi Açısından Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

The values that generate societies, transmitted from generation to generation, are rapidly consumed in today’s consumer society or are forgotten as a result of social change. With a conscious consumption approach, maintaining social values and ensuring their transfer to future generations emerge as much more important phenomenon than ever. The traditions expressed as a cultural indicator are the values that distinguish a society from other societies. One of the traditions that are still being tried out in Aydin is Gencer, which has a history of two hundred years. The Gencer tradition, which is being carried out in the districts and towns of the province, is a market that passes in the atmosphere of fair established during religious holidays. This market is an event where children get toys with festive allowances to have fun, young girls and men find a place to meet for marriage, people of the region come together and celebrate and eat Gencer’s special foods. The main aim of the study is to identify the past and present of the intangible cultural heritage Gencer and to lead the way to bring it to cultural tourism. From this point of view, in towns and districts of Aydin, where Gencer is founded, the findings of Gencer’s past, present and future have been reached through in-depth interviews with people from the local population, which we can define as living history, and conclusions and recommendations are given in this direction.