Abstract:

Authentic aspects of ethnic diversities and ethnic cultures have always attracted the attention of individuals. This attraction has uncovered the travels aimed at experiencing ethnic cultures and cultural elements. These travels that are called ethnic tourism aim to experience the lifestyles, customs and traditions of ethnic groups. Relevant studies have propounded that there is a direct relationship between ethnic tourism and intangible cultural heritage. In this study, the concept of ethnic tourism was defined and its relationships with intangible cultural heritage were analyzed. Being a subtype of cultural tourism; ethnic tourism plays an important role in protecting the intangible cultural heritage that belongs to ethnic groups and handing it down the next generations. However, unplanned ethnic tourism activities have negative impacts such as damaging intangible cultural heritage and losing authentic values for good.       

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