Prolonged displacement can transform temporary settlements into enduring socio-spatial environments. This article examines selected dimensions of social sustainability in Antakya following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. It combines a visual content analysis of 169 publicly available Instagram images with a Q-methodology study involving 50 residents across 30 temporary settlement areas. Public representations foreground the built environment (97.4%), everyday experience (94.7%), and the reconstruction of place (86.8%), whereas historical continuity is less visible (28.9%). Four rotated factors explain 35.8% of the variance: cultural-symbolic continuity and collective place-making; functional domestic stabilisation and organised settlement life; integrated socio-spatial anchoring and service-supported belonging; and pragmatic shelter stabilisation under uncertainty. Place attachment is treated as a qualitative, interpretive diagnostic rather than as a direct measure of institutional performance. The findings indicate that residents preserve cultural identity, establish domestic routines, depend on integrated social and service infrastructure, or prioritise shelter adequacy while remaining selective about emotional investment. The study derives factor-specific implications for neighbourhood continuity, dwelling adaptation, social infrastructure, and credible transitions to permanent housing.

Undergraduate and postgraduate students studying tourism management, heritage conservation, urban planning, public policy, and disaster or recovery studies are the primary target audience for this case study. It is particularly suitable for those seeking to gain experience in operationalizing theoretical concepts through interactive exercises. Participants are expected to possess foundational knowledge of tourism systems, destination management, and basic crisis communication strategies. The Antakya case highlights the complex interplay between rapid recovery and authentic preservation. It invites participants to navigate competing priorities through structured stakeholder dialogue and negotiation. The case aims to provide students with a realistic understanding of the tensions that arise in post-disaster recovery, including ethical conflicts, the pressures of rapid economic recovery, and the competing interests of various stakeholders. By engaging with this case, students gain insight into multi-level management structures and the complicated relationship between local, national, and international actors in the planning and implementation of tourism recovery strategies.