Local Residents’ Perceptions of the Sustainability of the Cittaslow Status: Case of Foça

Abstract

Cities are increasingly losing their cultural, environmental, and social values under the influence of popular culture, becoming detached from their original identities. As a response to this trend, the “slow city” (Cittaslow) movement, which offers a calmer, more peaceful alternative to the intense pace of urban life, has gained significance. Widely adopted both worldwide and in Türkiye, this movement enables cities that meet certain criteria to become members of the Cittaslow Network. However, the sustainability of this membership depends on the preservation and effective implementation of the core principles of the movement; otherwise, membership status may be revoked.
The main objective of this study is to examine the role of local residents in sustaining Foça’s Cittaslow designation. Within the scope of the research, qualitative research methods were employed, and a field study was conducted in Foça using semi-structured interviews. Through convenience sampling, 30 residents living in Foça were reached, and in-depth interviews were carried out. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed and interpreted using content analysis.
The findings reveal that women, the municipality, and local markets play particularly significant roles and assume important responsibilities in maintaining the sustainability of the Cittaslow status in Foça. In this context, the results emphasize the necessity of a multi-stakeholder approach in order to preserve and further develop Foça’s slow city identity. Based on the findings of the study, it is suggested that future research adopt comparative, quantitative, and multi-stakeholder approaches with larger samples across different Cittaslow cities, which would contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the sustainability of the Cittaslow designation.