With its projects aimed at contributing to Turkey’s sustainable tourism policies and practices, Cappadocia University became a corporate member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in 2021, joining global efforts related to sustainable tourism. The GSTC establishes global standards for sustainable travel and tourism. In line with the work and recommendations of the university’s Social and Strategic Research Center’s Sustainable Tourism Research Group, the GSTC, TGA (Tourism Promotion and Development Agency), and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are collaborating to contribute to the development of the Turkey Sustainable Tourism Program, which was launched nationally in 2022.

Sustainable tourism approaches are included as fundamental policies in Turkey’s 2023 Tourism Master Plan, updated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2019, with contributions from Cappadocia University’s Center for Social and Strategic Studies. Sustainable tourism policies and practices, which are key to enhancing the international competitiveness of Turkey’s tourism, are also expected to guide the tourism sector in the recovery process following the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Tourism, which develops based on natural and cultural resource supply, is among the sectors where sustainability policies are most effective. The necessity for societies to consider future generations, the increasing societal awareness regarding sustainability, visitors’ growing sensitivity towards sustainability, and the international agreements countries are part of concerning the sustainability of natural and cultural environments all necessitate a special emphasis on sustainability in tourism policies.

In this context, Cappadocia University has become the first educational institution in Turkey to be a corporate member of the GSTC, aiming to contribute to the development of Turkey’s sustainable tourism standards, expand the scope of sustainable tourism policies, popularize sustainability-related practices in the tourism sector, and lead scientific research and activities related to sustainable tourism at both national and destination levels.

For details on the “GSTC Certified Trainings” and “Sustainable Tourism Trainings for Professionals” offered in this context, please refer to the pages of KÜN Continuing Education Center.