Turkey’s Blue Flag Beaches Reach Record High at 531
Antalya Hosts Global Sustainable Tourism Conference
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), known for setting global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, recently held its Sustainable Tourism Conference in Antalya, Turkey. This year marks the first time the event has been held in Turkey, and it brought together various stakeholders in the tourism industry with a focus on development and promotion of sustainable travel.
The Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, spoke at the conference and praised the gains that will be achieved worldwide regarding sustainable tourism. He also shared that Turkey has made significant efforts in sustainable travel, such as increasing the number of blue flag beaches to 531 and having 19 heritage sites registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Turkey’s National Sustainable Tourism Program aims to have all tourism facilities in the country equipped with Sustainable Tourism Certificates by 2030.
GSTC President Luigi Cabrini remarked that challenges threatening tourism growth such as climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity issues continue to persist. However, he expressed gratitude to Turkish authorities for their assertive commitment to developing a national sustainable tourism plan.
The conference included trainings, interactive workshops, meetings, and social events, with more than 300 participants from 45 countries. GSTC aims to create a common understanding of sustainable tourism through its global standards, known as the GSTC Criteria.
