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Sustainable Tourism Program: Turkey's Window to the Future

 

Turkey’s Vision for Sustainable Tourism

 

Turkey aims to promote its natural, cultural, and social riches sustainably by balancing conservation and utilization. In this context, national sustainable tourism standards have been implemented under the name Turkey Sustainable Tourism Industry Criteria (TR-I). TR-I was established to ensure the sustainable growth of the tourism sector and to develop a shared understanding among all stakeholders.

 

Objectives and Scope of TR-I Criteria

 

The TR-I criteria combine the global GSTC standards with Turkey's unique cultural and social context for accommodation facilities and tour operators. These criteria are organized under four main categories:

• Sustainable management,
• Socio-economic impacts,
• Cultural impacts, and
• Environmental impacts.

 

A New Roadmap for Sustainable Tourism

 

The TR-I criteria not only support Turkey’s international commitments, such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the European Green Deal, but also aim to:

• Enhance sustainability practices across all tourism businesses,
• Increase awareness among Turkish society and sector stakeholders,
• Strengthen Turkey’s competitive position and broaden its role in the sustainable tourism market

 

Implementation and Monitoring of the Criteria

 

Compliance with the TR-I criteria is mandated by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism. To facilitate implementation, a Handbook has been developed, which includes complementary performance indicators, training materials, and practical tools.

 

Guidance for the Sector and Educational Institutions

 

The criteria provide a framework for developing sustainable tourism policies through collaboration between the private sector, public institutions, academia, and civil society. Additionally, they lead the industry by offering educational materials for universities and tourism schools.

 

For More Information

 

Details about the criteria are available on the websites of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), ensuring transparency with the sector.

 

Conclusion

 

Establishing a roadmap aligned with global standards in sustainable tourism means investing in the future of tourism while preserving Turkey’s natural and cultural values. Through TR-I, we can achieve these goals together.