Abstract
Socio-Cultural Effects of Festivals on Local People: The Case of the International Golden Saffron Documentary Film Festival
Festivals have many social effects on local people. Festivals can affect lifestyle, values, social interactions and identities, as well as the quality of life of the local people. This research aims to determine the socio-cultural effects of the International Golden Saffron Documentary Film Festival on local people, which was held every year, in Safranbolu, one of the most important cultural tourism destinations. In addition, issues such as the festival's contribution to tourism, the development and recognition of Safranbolu, its impact on lifestyle, traditions and values will be discussed. 25 people from different gender and occupational groups participated in the study. Participants were selected from the festival area using convenient sampling method. In the study, in which a qualitative research pattern was adopted, a semi-structured interview form was used to collect data. Face to face interviews were conducted with 14 male and 11 female participants in the study. The majority of the participants are tradesmen, 5 of them are festival officials, 4 of them are students, 2 of them are employees of the Directorate of Culture and Social Affairs, and the rest are participants from different categories. The research shows that the Festival does not have a negative effect on the local people. However, the participants stated that the festival could not go beyond the concerts.
Keywords
The Golden Saffron Documentary Film Festival, Festivals, Tourism, Socio-cultural Impact, Safranbolu.
