Abstract:

The festivals have a lot of social impact on the local people. Festivities can also influence their way of life, values, social interactions and identities as they affect the normal quality of life. This research aims to identify the socio-cultural effects of the International Golden Safran Documentary Film Festival, which is traditionally held annually in Safranbolu, one of the important destinations of cultural tourism, on the local population. In addition, the research will also study topics such as the festival’s tourism, its contribution to the development and recognition of Safranbolu, its impact on lifestyle, traditions and values. The study included 25 people of different gender and vocational groups. Participants were easily selected from the festival area with the sampling method. A semi-configured conversation form was used to collect data in the study where a qualified research pattern was adopted. 14 men and 11 women who participated in the study were interviewed face-to-face. The majority of participants are traders, 5 are festival officials, 4 are students, 2 are staff of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs, and the rest are participants from different categories. The research shows that the festival has no negative impact on the local people in general. However, the participants said the festival could not exceed the concerts.

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