Cappadocia University, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), representatives of the tourism sector, and the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) organized a panel on sustainable tourism at COP28 in Dubai. The panel stood out at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hasan Ali Karasar, who moderated the panel, evaluated the progress of Turkey’s Sustainable Tourism Program in the last year and stated that the program aims to raise the standards of tourism facilities, promote sustainable and responsible tourism and thus contribute to the development and employment of destinations by reducing the adverse effects of global climate change. GSTC Vice President CB Ramkumar highlighted Turkey’s global leadership in sustainable tourism. He pointed out that Turkey is by far the first country regarding the number of facilities certified by the program. At the same time, Dr. Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu, Acting Director General of TGA, shared that the foundations of Turkey’s national sustainable tourism program were laid in 2018. The process is progressing rapidly following the Paris Agreement. Fisunoğlu said that more than 1 million beds in Turkey will be certified by 2023. Fisunoğlu noted that more than 1 million beds in Turkey will be approved by 2023. TGA Board Member Kaan Kaşif Kavaloğlu explained that Turkey aims to achieve certification across its entire accommodation infrastructure by 2030. Turkey will continue its leadership role worldwide by adopting international sustainable tourism standards. Erkan Yağcı, President of TÜROFED, said that the demand for sustainability-certified hotels is increasing, and the program’s economic benefits are starting to be seen across the industry.
