Türkiye’s National Sustainable Tourism Program surpasses 2,000 GSTC-certified hotels, with certification set to become mandatory for all hotels nationwide by 2030.
Türkiye signed a cooperation agreement with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in 2022 to provide Turkish tourism with a sustainable framework and started to develop a national programme with the GSTC at the government level.
A national program was established, driven by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) in collaboration with GSTC, where GSTC Certification* became mandatory for all hotels across Türkiye by 2030, impacting approximately 22.000 accommodations nationwide, regardless of size.
This pioneering move positions Türkiye as the first country in the world to adopt such a comprehensive nationwide mandate, setting a global benchmark for government-led sustainable tourism initiatives. The program not only provides a clear pathway for hotels, whether small boutique properties or large-scale resorts, to transition towards sustainable practices but also reinforces Türkiye’s commitment to aligning its tourism sector with international standards while enhancing its global competitiveness and appeal to environmentally conscious travelers.
Through this initiative, Türkiye has successfully enabled more than 2,000 accommodation facilities to earn the internationally renowned GSTC Certification*, representing a significant achievement in global tourism. Today, Türkiye boasts the highest number of GSTC-certified accommodation facilities in the world.
“We congratulate Türkiye for surpassing 2,000 GSTC-Certified hotels, a remarkable achievement that demonstrates strong leadership in sustainable tourism. Türkiye’s National Sustainable Tourism Program is setting a global example of how governments and the private sector can work together to raise the bar in sustainability with a very rigorous program that engages all sizes and types of accommodations. We hope it inspires destinations worldwide to follow this remarkable path,” said Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Republic of Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, emphasised the progress in the sector: “The achievement of surpassing 2,000 GSTC-Certified hotels underscores our leadership in sustainable tourism. Our vision extends beyond achieving full compliance with global standards by 2030, and our ultimate goal is to position Türkiye as a global leader that actively shapes the future of sustainable tourism. Our tourism industry is showing a growing awareness and greater responsibility towards sustainability each day. The growing number of facilities obtaining Third Stage GSTC Certification, along with over 19,000 facilities that have already been verified and certified, clearly demonstrates our industry’s commitment to this transformation. Sustainability has become a fundamental principle and a collective responsibility that shapes the future of tourism. Thus, Türkiye is now also extending these certification efforts to the gastronomy sector as well. With this new programme in the food and beverage industry, Türkiye will once again set a global precedent, just as it did in the hospitality sector.”
GSTC Food & Beverage Standard under development
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), with support from the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), is further developing the GSTC Standards, the global standards for sustainable tourism, with a new set for tourism food service providers (official name to be determined during the development process). This new set will serve as the industry’s global sustainability standards for tourism-related food service providers. More information about GSTC’s Standards Development and Revisions can be found here.
Türkiye’s National Sustainable Tourism Program
Designed to ensure sustainable growth in Turkish tourism and to align all stakeholders around a common understanding, the National Sustainable Tourism Program subjects Türkiye’s accommodation facilities to rigorous audits based on GSTC Standards. Gradually becoming mandatory and fully aligned with international standards, the program aims for all facilities to complete the three stages and obtain the Sustainable Tourism Certificate by 2030.
By the end of 2024, 1,466 facilities had qualified for GSTC Certification, and as of September 1, 2025, this number reached 2,005, with an impressive 37% increase in just nine months.
Based on room and bed capacity, Stage 3 certification rates have exceeded 50% in Antalya, Kırşehir, and Kilis provinces. This success is closely followed by İstanbul, Konya, Şırnak, Gaziantep, Kayseri, and Aydın, all of which have achieved more than 30% of their accommodation capacities certified against GSTC Standards. These figures show that not only major tourism hubs but also emerging destinations are embracing sustainability principles with determination.
Moreover, Türkiye is taking extensive steps to promote the programme internationally in collaboration with the GSTC to inspire other nations in the journey towards sustainable tourism sector transformation. For instance, the GSTC2023 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference was held in Antalya in 2023, bringing together international tourism stakeholders dedicated to advancing sustainable travel. Watch the session about Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Program here, with Luigi Cabrini, GSTC Chair as moderator, and speakers: Dr. Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu, Vice General Manager, Tourism Operations and Development, Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, and Prof. Hasan Ali Karasar, Rector of Cappadocia University.
Click here to view Prof. Hasan explain how Türkiye is leading the way in sustainable tourism regulation with GSTC Standards. The interview is part of GSTC’s first global digital series, Travel Redefined: Tourism for People and Planet, launched in partnership with Content With Purpose (CWP).
More information on Türkiye’s Sustainability Program can be found here: https://tga.gov.tr/en/safe-and-sustainable-tourism/sustainable-tourism-program
In May 2025, GSTC released its 2024 Impact Evaluation of GSTC Certification: Insights from the Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Program, offering insights from the Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Program. The report is available in English and Spanish here.
Hotels that follow sustainability standards and wish to stand out with a reputable certification as a sustainable hotel should seek sustainable hotel certification by a GSTC-accredited Certification Body.
*The term “GSTC Certification” is a shorthand for “Certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-accredited.”
