Having ecological and cultural riches, Turkey is characterized by the fact that it offers accommodation options that strictly respect the principles of sustainability and numerous principles applicable to eco-tourism.
"Turkey already had lush pine forests, fine sandy beaches, clear turquoise seas, and an impressive cultural and historical heritage. However, with the addition of its National Sustainable Tourism Program, it has become one of the most essential destinations in the world for a sustainable vacation," the authority states.
To achieve a sustainable transformation in the tourism sector, Turkey last year signed a cooperation agreement for the development of a national program with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The latter is the one that sets and manages global standards for travel and tourism. In addition, Turkey is "the first country in the world" to sign this agreement at the governmental level, and maintains the TGA.
In line with its three-year plan to restructure the tourism industry, Turkey has also developed a National Sustainable Tourism Programme. Through the program, Turkey will incorporate sustainability principles into all tourism policies, including destinations, tour operators, and accommodation facilities.
The main purpose of the Sustainable Tourism Program is to ensure that accommodation units obtain the Sustainable Tourism Certificate, consisting of 42 globally accepted criteria. During this process, the accommodation units are subject to an independent assessment for certification, which is repeated annually. Effective sustainability planning, verification, and certification also enable facilities to continuously improve their sustainability efforts.
With this increased awareness, the number of verified and certified sustainability facilities in Turkey is proliferating. According to Turkey's National Sustainable Tourism Program, all facilities must have a "Sustainable Tourism Certificate" by 2030.
Turkey's National Sustainable Tourism Program aims to reduce pollution and save resources, ensuring that tourism is environmentally friendly in all aspects. Accommodation units that obtain a sustainability certificate through the program improve the visitor experience through ecological practices and contribute to preserving the unique values and culture of local populations and communities.
In Turkey, the evaluation of accommodation units takes place in four main categories: "Sustainable management", "Cultural impacts", "Socio-economic impacts", and "Environmental impact".
The unit's first step towards obtaining a sustainability certificate is the demonstration of efficient sustainable management.
"A large number of strategic steps are required for verification and certification, including developing sustainability policies and action plans, creating precise promotions, and communicating performance to stakeholders through regular reporting. In addition, facilities are needed to organize courses related to sustainability.
At the same time, accommodation facilities are evaluated according to their cultural and socioeconomic impact. Accommodation facilities are expected to protect cultural heritage, allow guests to interact with local culture, support the regional economy, and contribute to prosperity through practices such as encouraging employment, promoting local procurement, and supporting local entrepreneurs," states the TGA.
These measures are intended to maximize the environmental benefits of the installations and at the same time reduce the adverse effects. Each facility is expected to meet several requirements, such as prioritizing local and fair trade suppliers, minimizing water and energy consumption, managing solid waste, implementing recycling practices, and implementing biodiversity and landscape protection measures.
