Community Based Tourism
Finding the Euilibrium in the COMCEC Context
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The general goal of the project was to contribute to the living standards of local people by
enhancing tourist activities in Coruh Valley in the Northeastern part of Turkey. Within this
goal, the three specific objectives are defined as:
1) tourism product development;
2) promotion of the region and the project;
3) enhancement of local capacities.
The activities carried out concerning each objective were:
Tourism Product Development:
1. Tourism potential assessment and inventory development (mainly diverse natural life,
authentic cultural structure and heritage, bird-watching, mountaineering, camping,
water sports, trekking, gastronomy).
2. Publishing of brochures for natural and cultural assets (e.g. historic Georgian churches).
3. Training programs on mountaineering, camping, mountain biking, bird-watching and
botanic education (more than 150 participants).
4. Bird-watching festivals.
5. Logistical support to specialized tours (botanic, bird-watching, butterfly-watching,
rafting, etc.).
6. Promotion of handicrafts (establishment of a ceramics workshop, training programs
delivered to women participants, development of authentic gift items).
7. Promotion of local cuisine (training programs for 40 locals, publishing of a culinary
book on local delicacies, organization of gastronomy festivals and cooking contests).
8. Establishment of homestays.
Promotion of the region and the project:
1. National and international distribution of promotional brochures for the region (10,000
tri-fold map/brochures, 4,500 bird-watching brochures).
2. Instructive signs for natural and cultural assets (30 renewed, 13 newly added).
3. Broadcast of a one-hour documentary on national TV about the tourism potential of the
region.
4. Promotional collaboration with national associations for tour guiding, hoteliers and
travel agencies.
5. Participation in international, national and regional tourism fairs, meetings and
conferences (12 participations).
6. Participation in academic conferences (25 posters/presentations/exhibitions).
7. Social media utilization (Facebook account).
8. Establishment of tourism information offices and gift shops.
Enhancement of local capacities:
1. Training programs and certifications (i.e. topics include tourism awareness, social
development and organization, women’s involvement in social development, project
cycle management, entrepreneurship, grant and proposal writing, packaging of local
products and home-stay management).