Sustainable Tourism Transformation in Küçükköy

Küçükköy’s economy rests on three pillars. Most people engaged in agriculture grow olives, while the rest produce grain. Tourism and animal husbandry provide other sources of income. The village has approximately 400 stone houses bearing traces of Greek architecture, as well as three churches and three monasteries. Some of these buildings have been preserved in their original form and converted into museums, galleries and workshops.

This richness creates a setting that requires careful management. In small coastal settlements, the rise in visitor numbers during summer can put pressure on water, waste and electricity infrastructure. Improving the energy performance of historic buildings while preserving their architectural character also requires specialist expertise. Local income based on olive production and tourism is vulnerable to drought and seasonal fluctuations. In Küçükköy, environmental and economic resilience therefore belong in the same plan.

The SENTRUM project, launched under the leadership of Enerjisa Enerji and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Türkiye in cooperation with Sabancı University, carried out its first implementation in Küçükköy. According to the project’s official account, the work was implemented in 2021 and 2022. Its starting point was to identify the needs of a small destination on site and support sustainable tourism goals through energy focused initiatives.

The first step was to understand the area. The village’s tourism resources, stakeholder landscape and energy consumption profile were mapped. Strategy reports were then prepared. These covered global green destination standards and examples of good practice, a strategy for eco friendly transport systems, a green destination model and a gender equality action plan. The last item is significant because it shows the scope of an energy focused initiative. A destination’s transformation remains incomplete if it does not include women’s participation in the economy.

One of the most visible outcomes was Necmi Komili Primary and Secondary School. Renewable energy and efficiency measures turned the building into a net zero energy building. A solar energy system was installed at the cultural centre. Tourism businesses received energy efficiency support, and measures were implemented in public buildings. This choice brought the transformation into everyday life rather than limiting it to places used by visitors.

High speed electric vehicle charging infrastructure was introduced on the transport side. Its actual environmental benefit, however, depends on monitoring data such as the source of electricity and frequency of use over time.

In Küçükköy, measurement serves a purpose beyond promoting the project. The real impact of investments can be understood when indicators such as changes in energy consumption, renewable energy generation, operating costs, visitor numbers, water use and waste performance are tracked together. This is critical to the model’s long term credibility.

Choosing a school was also meaningful for community learning. Students who monitor energy generation and consumption at school see a technical system as part of their daily experience.

Click here to follow Küçükköy’s transformation.

Alongside physical investments, the visitor experience was also designed. Nature and energy themed cycling and walking routes were created. Roadmaps were prepared for sustainable procurement, transport and consumption. The common aim of these efforts is to extend tourism beyond the summer months.

Year round tourism has become an economic necessity for small destinations. In a settlement that earns its income in just three months, businesses remain closed for the rest of the year, and young people leave the area in search of seasonal work. Extending the season both eases the pressure on infrastructure during summer and makes employment more continuous.

The first implementation period in Küçükköy ended in 2022. Continuity is central to the next stage. Reports published under the project address global green destination standards, local tourism resources and stakeholders, eco friendly transport, the green destination model and gender equality. Alongside documenting the work completed, these reports provide a starting framework for new decisions.

SENTRUM’s expansion from Küçükköy to Birgi and then to Göynük in 2026 reinforces the continuing relevance of the first implementation. Küçükköy can no longer be viewed solely as a completed pilot site. It is a source of learning that shows which solutions worked, what data was missing and how local ownership was maintained.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s destination criteria are organised into four main areas: sustainable management, socioeconomic impacts, cultural impacts and environmental impacts. This framework asks a destination to demonstrate more than investments. It also assesses management practices such as involving local people in decisions, monitoring visitor pressure, collecting water and waste data, protecting cultural heritage and engaging businesses in the process.

Alignment with international criteria means institutional discipline before any claim of certification. Goals are documented, responsibilities are assigned and performance is measured regularly. A credible account of Küçükköy can be built on this basis: destination management that communicates verifiable practices and areas for improvement with equal clarity, rather than claiming a title that has already been achieved.

The most instructive aspect of Küçükköy’s experience lies beyond the technical work. Installing panels, replacing equipment and mapping routes can all be planned. The difficult part is enabling the village to sustain this system after the project ends. Women’s and young people’s participation in the tourism economy, supply relationships with local producers and solidarity among businesses are what support that continuity.

In small settlements, changes in behaviour spread quickly. A guesthouse’s lower electricity bill can persuade its neighbour. The same speed can work in the opposite direction. An investment that the community does not embrace may fall into disuse within a few seasons. The durability of the transformation therefore depends more on community engagement than on the quality of the equipment.

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When energy, water, waste, coastal ecosystems and local development are addressed independently, the overall impact of transformation may remain limited. The destination scale offers a useful basis for bringing these areas together in a shared plan. Küçükköy provides valuable experience in addressing different needs together at the local level. This is where the value of scaling becomes clear. Knowledge and experience gained in one place can be transferred to other destinations with due regard for their different local conditions.

The long term impact of this approach will become clearer through regular sharing of results, continued local participation and ongoing maintenance of investments. Küçükköy’s success can be assessed not only by the transformation within its own boundaries but also by how much it helps other destinations develop their own models.

A village surrounded by olive groves and stone buildings can offer a concrete window onto the global climate debate. Küçükköy’s experience shows that transformation is as much about local governance, data, maintenance and participation as it is about choosing technology.