Presented at the Ist International Symposium on Innovative Approaches in Scientific Studies (ISAS 2018), Kemer-Antalya, Turkey, Apr 11, 2018

SETSCI Conference Proceedings, 2018, 2, Page (s): 207-207 , https://doi.org/

Published Date: 23 June 2018    | 1126     7

Legendary or ordinary battles which occurred in battlefields from far in the past in the history of mankind attracted visitors. No matter what the result was a triumph or defeat these battles and their sites are evaluated as heritage attractions and they have meanings for the communities. Nowadays the search by the tourists for authentic accelerated the growth of niche tourism products focused on attractions like battlefields. Destinations need to diversify their products in order to gain competitive advantage. Nevertheless, Smith (1996) argues that in spite of the horrors of battles the memorabilia of warfare and its related commodities likely to happen the single category of touristic attraction in the world. Like Lowenthal (1985) mentioned, events attract more people than relics. Especially institutions like Western Front Association, Battlefield Trust and Scottish Battlefield Trust in United Kingdom provided a solid basis for the protection and promotion of historical battlefields. The Sealed Knot Charity is another institution which performs reenactments in local communities based around battles, skirmishes and sieges of the English Civil War. These institutions help to organize reenactment of battles along United Kingdom which attracted so many visitors for purposes like leisure, commemoration and tourism etc. In the light of the examples given above, this study takes 946th anniversary of the victory of battle of Manzikert celebrations into consideration as a newly occurring battlefield tourism and reenactment of battles example in Turkey. Turkish military history which dates back to 4000 years have full of battles. Battle of Manzikert (26 May 1071) is a turning point for Seljuq Turks and their grandsons in Turkey present day. After the defeat of Byzantines under the command of emperor Romanus IV, Seljuq Turks open the doors of Anatolia to the Turks with battle won by Sultan Alp-Arslan (Heroic Lion). In 2017 after 946 years of the victory of battle of Mamzikert the victory was celebrated with events which held in Mus province Malazgirt county. In the events visitors watched reenactments, 5th Conquest Cup Archery Tournament and they visited mock Turkish nomadic (Yoruk) tents and other similar activities. The results of the study may contribute the development and promotion of this niche type of tourism in similar destinations.

Keywords - Battles, Battlefields, Battlefield Tourism, Reenactments, Battle of Manzikert