Change of urban image with demands of contemporary tourism: The case of Batumi

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Mimarlık, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2012

Tezin Dili: İngilizce

Öğrenci: BURCU TERAKYE ÜNSAL

Danışman: Fatma Cânâ Bilsel

Özet:

The cities are being presented as commodities with their constructed images. Their names are being transformed to brand names, of entertainment, culture etc. Tourism industry is the main actor of this process. In my study on the relationship between tourism industry and its effects on the built environment of the city, the present study focuses on Batumi, a resort city of Georgia. A massive construction activity is being conducted in the city aiming to create tourist attractions, which include the creation of international chain hotels, beautification of public spaces and regeneration of the beach line. The city of Batumi, which has a long history as a port city and also as a resort mainly attracting tourists from the neighboring countries to Georgia, is undergoing a rapid change that transforms the city into a space of consumption. This change, including creation of tourist enclaves, commodification of heritage, gentrification and refashioning the city to create particular ways of seeing reflects the impact of consumption culture on tourism.