The workshop was carried out through the collaboration and participation of the Sivas Governorship, Kapadokya University, Sivas Special Provincial Administration, Sivas Municipality, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, ORAN Development Agency, Sivas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen of Sivas. Representing Kapadokya University at the workshop were Prof. Dr. Bilgehan Gülcan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Burak Sakal, Lecturer Avşin Ayhan, and Lecturer Burcu Tezcan.
As part of the programme, field studies, the Search Conference, and workshop sessions were conducted simultaneously. The Search Conference, which formed the core of the process, was carried out with the active participation of stakeholders, while the workshop sessions provided a platform for collaborative discussions and evaluations based on a shared vision.
During the workshop, Sivas’s tourism, cultural, and development potential was assessed through a comprehensive approach across nine thematic working groups. The discussions covered gastronomy, winter tourism, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, thermal, health and wellness tourism, rural and ecotourism, sports and adventure tourism, as well as travel and transportation. These sessions examined the province’s current situation, strengths, and areas with development potential.
The outcomes generated through the active participation of academics, public officials, and industry stakeholders were documented to serve as key inputs for the Sivas Tourism Master Plan and its accompanying Action Plan, which will include a practical implementation framework and timeline for putting the strategy into practice.
Drawing on Cappadocia University’s academic expertise and strategic planning approach, this comprehensive initiative laid the foundation for a tourism roadmap that preserves Sivas’s local values, enhances its competitiveness, and places sustainable development at the heart of its long-term vision.
