Sustainability

At the beginning of 2022, we signed a collaboration agreement with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which sets and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism. With this agreement, Türkiye became the first country to sign an agreement with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) at the government level to prepare a National Sustainable Tourism Program. In this regard, our work has taken a pioneering step in global sustainability. 

The program establishes a comprehensive roadmap that encompasses accommodation facilities, destinations, and tour operators, aiming to ensure that all tourism stakeholders gradually comply with international sustainability standards by 2030. 

First of all, Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Criteria (TR-I) prepared for accommodation facilities and has been “Recognized” according to the GSTC standards and the program has been granted the 'Acknowledged' status.  

Türkiye’s Sustainable Tourism Program established to ensure the sustainable growth of the tourism sector and to develop a common sustainability approach at international level for Turkish tourism industry with the participation and support of all tourism stakeholders (NGOs, hoteliers, ministries, etc.). 

Additionally, the program also contributes to supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, complying with legal regulations and commitments such as the Paris Climate Agreement, and maintaining the competitiveness of our country in the tourism sector. 

The Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Program offers a new sustainability vision not only for leisure tourism but also for business tourism and the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) sectors. Within the scope of the program, promoting sustainable practices in international meetings, conferences, and events is a key objective. 

In this regard, Türkiye, with its accommodation facilities certified with sustainability equivalent to GSTC standards and other sustainability-certified establishments, is positioned as a leading country in the green meetings movement and is on its way to becoming an ideal destination for sustainable events.