“Sustainable Destination Management Panel” Held...

A “Sustainable Destination Management Panel” was held in cooperation with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Tourism Department and the Şişli Municipality Destination Management Office.

Addressing the attendees during the opening program of the panel, TÜROB Vice Chair Hediye Güral Gür touched on the economic and social impacts of the tourism industry in Türkiye and around the world, sustainability efforts, global warming, and global sustainable tourism criteria. In her speech, TÜROB Vice Chair Gür made the following assessment: “The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has put into effect the ‘Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Program,’ aimed at the process of complying with the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which is recognized globally and accepted as a determining body in international norms for developing the sustainability standard in the tourism sector. Accommodation establishments certified by the Ministry have been required to obtain the ‘Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Program Stage 1 Certificate’ by 31.12.2023 at the latest. We observe that this matter is extremely important, and we particularly wish to express that we also expect our local governments to carry out work in the public areas of our cities in accordance with these standards.”

Following the opening speeches by Şişli Mayor Muammer Keskin, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, TTYD Vice Chair Ali Güreli, İRO Chair Hüseyin Özgür Özaltın, AYD Chair Nuri Şapkacı and TÜRSAB Chair Firuz Bağlıkaya; the “Sustainable Destination Management Panel” was held, moderated by Turkish-German Sister Cities Federation Chair Özcan Mutlu, with the participation of IMM Tourism Department Head Hüseyin Gazi Coşan, Kenthaş Chairman Özcan Biçer, Berlin Visit CIO Burkhard Kieker, and Berlin Partners International Coordinator Markus Facklam. At the panel, in addition to the work being carried out in both cities on the subject, possible cooperation proposals between Berlin and Istanbul were discussed.

The event was also attended by TÜROB Secretary General İsmail Taşdemir, TÜROB Board Members Mustafa Topaloğlu, Kasım Zoto and Ayhan Hacıbektaşoğlu, TÜROB External Relations Officer Gülin Tüfekçi, along with numerous executives, guests and members of the press from the sector.