"Western Black Sea Nature Tourism Implementation Action Plan Workshop" hosted by the Faculty of Tourism of our university started on September 15, 2023 at the Istiklal Road Conference Hall of the Faculty of Tourism.
The opening speech of the 3-day workshop was made by Prof. Dr. Alptekin Sökmen, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism as the host. Dean Prof. Dr. Sökmen explained the work done to announce Kastamonu to the world in the field of nature tourism.
Prof. Dr. Sökmen stated that as Kastamonu University, as a university specializing in forestry and nature tourism, they will take part in all kinds of studies that will add value to Kastamonu. Stating that they have taken small but confident steps for Kastamonu with the projects carried out with the support of both the European Union and different organizations, Prof. Dr. Sökmen emphasized that they will contribute to Kastamonu and the regional economy by working hand in hand with the people of the region and academicians.
Taking the floor after Dean Prof. Dr. Alptekin Sökmen, Onur Gözet, Deputy Director General for Promotion of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, drew attention to the increasing number of tourists in our country after the pandemic in his opening speech.
Stating that Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), which started its activities before the pandemic, realized its activities with the principle of safe tourism during the pandemic and sustainable tourism understanding after the pandemic, Gözet said that they aim to ensure that all businesses operating in the tourism sector have sustainable tourism standards by 2030. Gözet emphasized that they are working towards product and market diversity in tourism for 12 months. Gözet said that within the framework of the provincial promotion development program, activities for the promotion of Kastamonu were also carried out, and stated that Kastamonu has an important place in terms of product diversity.
TGA Product Marketing Director Ceylan Şensoy, who took the floor after Deputy Director Gözet, stated that TGA works on the GOTurkey platform, where all products and brands are brought together. Stating that our country is promoted all over the world with the GO Turkey platform, Şensoy stated that this platform includes the promotion of the values unique to our country, tourism destinations, products supplied in cities and branding activities. Stating that not only academic or economic activities are included in this platform, but also social media and digital media are actively used, Şensoy underlined that they aim to promote Turkey effectively with the routes created in certain themes.
Our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Küçük, who took the floor after Director Şensoy, stated that as a university specializing in Forestry and Nature, they support the studies carried out in many fields on Kastamonu.
Prof. Dr. Küçük expressed his great satisfaction with the role played by Kastamonu University in the studies carried out for the promotion of Kastamonu tourism and underlined that the work carried out in determining tourism routes, establishing connections with nearby cities and creating digital tourism points will continue in the future. Stating that Kastamonu, which hosts 3 national parks, needs a Tourism Action Plan, Prof. Dr. Küçük stated that they will work with all stakeholders to realize this.
Deputy Mayor Mehmet Yurt, who took the floor after Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Küçük, said that Kastamonu, the city of Evliyas, is a city with high potential for history, religion, sea and nature tourism, and stated that they want to add value to Kastamonu with the academic support of both the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the University.
In his speech, Yurt said that Kastamonu Municipality wants to share the beauties of Kastamonu hidden on the Black Sea coast with the whole world and underlined that they will support all kinds of work to be done in the field of tourism.
Rural Development Specialist İsmail Şahinbaş, who took the floor after the Deputy Mayor, emphasized that tourism awareness cannot develop without rural development and underlined that it is necessary to support rural development from the basis for tourism development.
After the opening speech, many academicians and sector representatives shared their work on the Western Black Sea Nature Tourism Implementation Action Plan with the participants in the sessions created in the program.
On the second day of the workshop, good practices and sustainability issues will be discussed, while on the last day, an event will be held to identify tourism spots in Kastamonu.
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