Craft and Faith-based Souvenirs: The Case of Two Cities in Turkey

Souvenirs are reminders that indicate a particular time, location or attraction and are generally associated with a touristic act or a ceremony. The tourism potential of a province is supported by a souvenir market in which the local identity is commercialized. This paper presents a comparative study of the souvenir market in two touristic locations in Turkey, namely Hacıbektas and Konya, particular for their belief tourism. These two destinations are known for their lodges and they attract a considerable number of tourists, both domes- tic and international. Souvenirs from a sacred place are expected to reflect its sacredness. This secret characteristic is associated with a local underground resource and craft in Hacıbektas, while Konya is known as an industrial center as well. The aim of the study is to scrutinize the motives behind small scale faith-based souvenir production, and its relationship with craft.