The Turkish historical and cultural town of Birgi, located in the Odemis district of Izmir in the Aegean region, will be the second site for the country’s ‘green destination’ for tourism based on energy efficiency, renewable energy and other sustainable practices.
A component of the Center for Tourism Practices Based on Sustainable Energy (SENTRUM) project, which was initiated in 2021, is Birgi’s journey toward sustainable transformation.
The project’s goals were shared at a news briefing at Birgi’s Cakiraga Mansion, one of the rare mansions with a distinctive architectural style unique to the region.
For the region’s sustainable transformation journey, Turkish energy company Enerjisa Enerji will collaborate with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Sabanci University, Sabanci Foundation, Hilton SA Hotels and local stakeholders will also offer support for the project.
The environmental, social and economic sustainability of the tourism sector is among Türkiye’s national development priorities, a part of which is “green destinations”.
The goals of green destinations include protecting the environment, preventing waste, promoting green energy, implementing energy efficiency measures, contributing to the social and economic empowerment of local people and expanding sustainable tourism practices.
Birgi, which is listed among the top 32 tourism villages worldwide in 2022, will be transformed into a sustainable green tourist attraction. This will include using smart routes to create customized travel experiences, preserving cultural and regional values, and expanding regional tourism to four seasons while utilizing energy-efficient and renewable energy techniques.
A key goal of the project is to support sustainable tourism while also promoting the adaptation of internationally recognized standards, all in the service of local community-based socioeconomic development.
The project will pioneer a transformation in Birgi in line with the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and conduct a climate risk assessment to determine the risks and adaptation measures that will affect current and future tourism destinations.
It will also analyze visitor carrying capacity in order not to put too much pressure on its social and cultural heritage and create a branding and marketing strategy for the town.
Environmentally friendly transportation will be encouraged through the creation of walking and cycling routes, and energy audits will be conducted in accommodations, facilities, and public buildings.
– First destination of SENTRUM project: Kucukkoy
The project, launched in 2021 in Kucukkoy, a promising tourism location along Türkiye’s Aegean coast in the Ayvalik district of Balikesir, set an example of sustainable tourism after 10 million Turkish liras in investment and a development period of 18 months.
Energy audits were carried out in public buildings and small-scale tourism businesses as part of the project; eight businesses received energy-efficient white goods and lighting; solar power facilities were installed; and the village’s first fast electric vehicle charging infrastructure was established.
Energy efficiency measures and renewables transformed a local school and culture center into two of the first ‘net zero energy buildings’ in Türkiye.
Speaking at the news conference, Murat Pinar, CEO of Enerjisa Enerji, highlighted the company’s leading role in Türkiye’s energy transformation.
According to Pinar, the company, under its “Better Future’ vision, transformed Kucukkoy into an environmentally friendly tourism center using sustainable practices and renewables.
“Enerjisa Enerji will continue to work for a better future with our stakeholders in Birgi, and will continue to create a success story in Türkiye and across the world with the project,” he said.
Louisa Vinton, UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative, emphasized the value of investing in resilient and sustainable tourism practices, stating that conserving the ecological and cultural diversity of all destinations is just as crucial as utilizing renewable energy sources and consuming less energy.
The deputy general manager of TGA, Elif Balci Fisunoglu, added that the project’s sustainable tourism-focused operations will help Türkiye undergo a green transformation and serve as a model for best practices around the world.
