The Conceptual Role of the City Center in Urban Tourism Through the Lens of Travelogues

Urban tourism is now one of the most significant categories of the tourism industry. It refers to a type of tourism that is planned and managed based on cultural, recreational, economic concepts, of the city. Available studies in tourism have identified urban tourism as one of the largest and most important forms of tourism. It is also one of the most complex types of tourism in terms of management. Regardless of this complexity, the number of cities seeking to attract tourists is on the rise. In this tourism, the city center is one of the various destinations for urban tourism. Knowledge about the concept of the center in this domain has often been limited to one of the multiple centers of the city. This center is known for its memorial and historical meaning and guides tourists to visit specific works.
But the type of management and planning of tourists called urban tourists in the center shows a lack of accurate knowledge of this important urban organ. Where is the city center and who are the urban tourists?
The city center reflects the integrity of the city and manifests the culture, community, events, and identity –giving elements of the city. Urban tourism policies identify the lack of understanding of the concept and importance of the city center as a content gap in urban tourism management. Therefore, understanding the concept of the city center and its values is essential ​​to manage the urban tourism industry consciously and plan tourism infrastructure, and to identify real tourists of the city in this domain.