Destination security is critically important for the sustainability of the tourism industry. Tourists’ perceptions of security directly influence the future of destinations, and natural and man-made disasters play a significant role in negatively shaping these perceptions. Among these, earthquakes are considered one of the most severe crises faced by the tourism industry. The unpredictability of when earthquakes will occur, along with the uncertainties they bring, can significantly impact tourists’ travel behavior. Although Turkey holds a significant share in the global tourism industry, its tourism sector faces serious threats due to the country’s location within an earthquake-prone zone. An examination of Turkey’s earthquake hazard map reveals that all seven geographical regions of the country are at risk of earthquakes. This situation impacts not only residential areas but also the country’s economic and cultural assets. Notably, a substantial portion of these regions includes Turkey’s cultural tour routes and sea-sand-sun tourism destinations. Istanbul, which consistently maintains its prominence in tourism, faces the potential of a major crisis with the anticipated Istanbul earthquake. Such an event would not only threaten Turkey’s tourism sector but also jeopardize the country’s economic future. These facts constitute the primary motivation and significance of this study. The aim of the study is to comprehensively evaluate the security challenges faced by cultural tourism destinations in Turkey’s earthquake-prone regions and to propose innovative and sustainable approaches to enhance destination security in this context.