Türkiye has signed a collaboration agreement with the world-leading organisation for sustainable tourism standards and certification accreditation, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
With the agreement, Türkiye and GSTC will introduce for the first time a National Sustainable Tourism Scheme using the GSTC’s world-renowned Destination Criteria. Thanks to the new programme, the Turkish tourism industry will accelerate its global sustainability practices.
The signing of the agreement marks a major step toward sustainability as Türkiye becomes the first government in the world to sign an agreement to develop a national programme with GSTC.
The Turkish tourism industry will be restructured with the 3-year agreement signed with GSTC, which sets the best and most widespread standards in sustainable tourism.
In the first stage of the agreement, which Türkiye signed as a government with a major focus on delivering long term sustainability, the national programme criteria will be determined and inspection firms will receive training. As of the first week of February, Turkish tourism stakeholders will join the programme as well. The first stage of the programme, planned to be wholly concluded by 2030, will become operational in 2023; and the second stage will be carried out gradually in 2025. In 2030, all international standards will be met.
Bringing Türkiye to the fore in sustainable tourism, the agreement will also reach the goals of The Paris Agreement, signed by Türkiye at the end of last year. As of 2022, Türkiye is launching a transformation towards sustainability in the tourism industry and the collaboration with GSTC will highlight the country’s strong and increasing focus on sustainability.
Türkiye’s Safe Tourism Certification Programme – implemented in 2020 and the first of its kind in the world – includes an extensive series of measures with regards to transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, and congress facilities as well as the wellbeing and health conditions of passengers/guests and employees.
Nearly 12,000 facilities have been granted the Safe Tourism Certification so far. Within the scope of the Programme, the tourism industry, especially the accommodation facilities, will be subject to both safe and sustainable standards. As of April 2022, accommodation facilities will gradually start to implement sustainable practices.
For more information, visit www.goturkiye.com
