Tourism’s Impact on the Everyday Lives of Locals: A Case Study from Uçhisar

This study explores how tourism in the Cappadocia region, which began developing in the 1960s, transformed the social life and culture of Uçhisar, a small settlement within the region. Based on field research, semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants. The study's central question is how tourism transforms the daily life of a small town at a local level. Findings indicate that villagers perceive the impact of tourism on locals' everyday lives as largely positive, believing that its benefits outweigh its potential negative consequences. Through comparative analysis with other areas in the region where tourism has not developed to the same extent, the study identified eleven influential factors driving these transformations: alcohol consumption and "bad habits," speech-behavior-common decency, childbearing, dress code, daily routines, declining domestic violence, eating habits, education, use of technology, entrepreneurship/income, and changing mentalities.