Diverse paths, shared heritage: Mapping future extensions of the Sultan's trail

Cultural routes are gaining popularity as a means to preserve cultural heritage and boost tourism. The Sultans Trail, a cultural route stretching over 2,500 km from Vienna to Istanbul, showcases Ottoman heritage and symbolizes reconciliation, international cooperation, and cultural coexistence. This study aims to explore the potential for expanding the Sultans Trail by establishing additional branches from Istanbul through Northern Greece (Kavala, Thessaloniki), North Macedonia (Ohrid), Albania (Berat, Tirana), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Trebinje, Mostar), Croatia (Split, Knin, Senj, Zagreb), Slovenia (Ptuj, Maribor), and back to Austria (Graz, Vienna), creating a circular route. Using a cultural route evaluation system based on five criteria—theme, participants, the route itself, activities, and value—the study examines various indicators. The findings indicate that opinions on the significance of Ottoman heritage range from exceptional to valuable. The study suggests that branching the Sultans Trail into lesser-known tourist areas could enhance the cultural tourism development of peripheral destinations.