Ancient Witnesses of the Silk Road: The Cultural Tourism Potential of Historical Caravanserais in Anatolia

Historical caravanserais along the Silk Road's Anatolian Caravan Roads can be sustainably integrated into cultural tourism through contemporary conservation and digital technologies. This study demonstrates that repurposing these ancient structures—such as those on the Konya-Antalya/Manavgat route—as part of a cultural route, while applying modern preservation techniques, enhances their potential for tourism. The research builds on the 2014 UNESCO designation of the Chang'an-Tianshan corridor as a World Heritage Site, proposing a scenario that balances heritage protection with accessibility. By leveraging digital tools and adaptive conservation approaches, the study offers a model for transforming neglected Silk Road landmarks into vibrant cultural destinations.

Dabanlı, O., & Şimşek, M. (2022). ANCIENT WITNESSES OF THE SILK ROAD: THE CULTURAL TOURISM POTENTIAL OF HISTORICAL CARAVANSERAIS IN ANATOLIA. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.7459996