From Antiquity to the Early Ottoman Period: A Proposed Tourism Route Linking Yenişehir and İznik

Abstract

Yenişehir, founded by Osman Bey and once an administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, and İznik, where many historical traces from the Hellenistic period to the Ottoman era can be followed, are two important districts of Bursa. However, these two significant historical destinations are not recognized at the level they deserve in the field of tourism today. For this reason, a cultural tour route has been created for the districts of Yenişehir and İznik in this study. The aims are to increase the recognition of İznik and Yenişehir, to ensure Yenişehir's inclusion in tour programs, and to increase accommodation in İznik. Furthermore, by examining the districts of Yenişehir and İznik within the framework of historical continuity from antiquity to the early Ottoman period through a holistic tourism route proposal, the study seeks to address a notable
gap existing literature. The tour program prepared in line with these objectives was sent to 3 travel agencies located in Bursa, Yenişehir, and İznik, as well as 2 tourist guides registered with the Bursa Guide Association, for their review. The tour program was finalized according to the recommendations from agency officials and guides. Document analysis, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study. The tour, which includes one night's accommodation in İznik, starts from Yenişehir and continues through İznik. The first day concludes with an İznik tile workshop activity. The next day, the tour program, which begins in İznik, ends after exploring
İznik's multi-layered cultural heritage elements. The created tour route has been prepared in accordance with sustainable tourism principles, incorporating walking and short vehicle transfers. The study is expected to diversify the tourism mobility of the two destinations and contribute to local development.