• About SENTRUM
    • Our Project Partners
  • What is Green and Sustainable Tourism?
  • Green Destinations
  • Green Ideas
  • Media Center
    • News and Announcements
    • Press Contact
    • Events | Gallery
    • Corporate Gallery
  • Blog | Columns
    • Blog
    • Opinion Columns
  • Global Sustainable Tourism Program
  • Awards
  • Newsletter
  • Reports
Newsletter
  • TR
    • Türkçe
    • English
  • Homepage
  • Media Center & News Announcements
  • Birgi will be the second stop of the SENTRUM green destination model

Birgi will be the second stop of the SENTRUM green destination model

Birgi to be the second stop of the SENTRUM green destination model

The “Sustainable Energy Based Tourism Application Center (SENTRUM)” Project, which has signed a transformation story in sustainable tourism, is bringing the second center of the green destination model to life in the historical Birgi Village of İzmir after Ayvalık Küçükköy.

After Enerjisa Enerji, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Sabancı University, the SENTRUM Project, which is strengthened by the partnership of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), will make the historical Birgi village of İzmir the second and new center of the sustainable green destination after Ayvalık Küçükköy. Sabancı Foundation and HiltonSA Hotels are the supporters of the project, while Ödemiş Municipality and Ödemiş District Governorship are among the local partners of the project.
Birgi village of Izmir, where local development will be supported, will be transformed into a sustainable green destination where cultural and natural values ​​are preserved, regional tourism is spread to all four seasons with energy efficiency and renewable energy applications, and visitors can personalize their travel experiences with smart routes. Within the scope of the SENTRUM Project, it is aimed to harmonize globally accepted standards with the unique needs of the destination and support sustainable tourism in order to contribute to community-based socio-economic development in Birgi.

The main objectives of the project include leading a destination transformation in Birgi in line with the criteria of the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council), determining the risks and adaptation measures that will affect the current and future tourism destination with climate risk assessment, making visitor planning in a way that will not create pressure on Birgi's social, environmental and cultural heritage with the visitor carrying capacity study, and creating a branding and marketing strategy for Birgi.

Within the scope of the studies carried out, it is aimed to conduct current situation analyses, prepare action plans and carry out capacity development studies on issues such as gender equality, employability of women and youth, determination of internship opportunities for tourism vocational high school and university students. In addition to the creation of walking and cycling routes, the SENTRUM model, which is planned to encourage environmentally friendly transportation and conduct energy studies in accommodation facilities and public buildings, increases opportunities for livelihoods while also focusing on the promotion of Birgi's unique cultural and natural heritage.

The goals of the SENTRUM project, the steps taken so far and what will be done in Birgi from now on; were shared at the press conference held in İzmir Birgi village on May 20, 2024 with the participation of Enerjisa Enerji CEO Murat Pınar, UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Louisa Vinton and Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency Deputy General Manager Dr.Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu.

“With SENTRUM, we will continue to write a success story on a global scale with our stakeholders in Birgi.”

Speaking at the press conference, Enerjisa Enerji CEO Murat Pınar said, “As Enerjisa Enerji, we are leading the energy transformation of a growing Turkey. On the other hand, we undertake to be a part of the solution by establishing partnerships for the problems of our world and our country, especially the climate crisis, in every field we operate. In light of our vision of a Better Future, we had previously proven in Ayvalık Küçükköy with SENTRUM that the tourism sector, one of the most important sources of income for our country, can be transformed with sustainable practices and renewable energy. The Sentrum project was crowned with both our awareness studies and the projects we developed under the roof of İşimin Enerjisi. As Enerjisa Enerji, we will continue to work for a better future together with our stakeholders in Birgi and set an example for Turkey, while continuing to write a success story in Turkey and the world with the SENTRUM Project.”

UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Louisa Vinton said, “Tourism can be a powerful engine of development. However, it can also create heavy pressure on the environment and cause natural beauties that attract tourists to be ignored. Therefore, it is vital to develop greener, more sustainable models that protect and value nature while providing social and economic benefits to the local people who make a living from tourism.”

Dr. Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu, Deputy Director General of the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), said, “Turkish tourism, which started its transformation journey with zero waste studies, has created a sustainable tourism roadmap by establishing a cooperation agreement with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which is the organization that determines and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, as well as providing international accreditation for Sustainable Tourism Certification Organizations as of 2022. With this agreement, Turkey has become the first government to sign an agreement with the government in the field of ‘sustainable tourism’. The National Sustainable Tourism Program will ensure transformation in the entire tourism sector, especially for accommodation facilities, destinations and tour operators. Turkey will take the sustainability-oriented approach seriously and sign the agreement with the government, and all international standards will be achieved by 2030. We believe that the work within the scope of the Sentrum project, which was implemented with the partnership of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, TGA, United Nations Development Program and Enerjisa and focused on Sustainable Tourism, will contribute to the green transformation of our country and take its place as an example of good practice in the world.”

News from SENTRUM

Be informed about innovations in sustainable tourism and energy, and follow closely the steps we take to protect nature and support the local economy.

26.Jun.2025
Bringing Sustainable Tourism and Children’s Dreams Together in Birgi
Within the scope of the SENTRUM project, which aims to transform selected destinations through sustainable tourism and support local economic development, the doors of sustainable tourism were opened with the dreams of children in Birgi.
Read More
26.Jun.2025
Bringing Imagination to Life on Stage: We Hosted a Creative Drama Workshop in Birgi
As part of the SENTRUM project, we held a creative drama workshop with children at Birgi Kazımpaşa Secondary School.
Read More
26.Jun.2025
SENTRUM and Hilton: Partnering for Ongoing Transformation with Shared Goals
As part of our SENTRUM project, the training program we implemented with Hilton Hotels in Birgi stands as a strong example of the “Partnerships for the Goals” principle within the sustainable development goals.
Read More
07.May.2025
The Heart of Green Transformation Beats in Birgi: SENTRUM Birgi Implementation Center Opened
SENTRUM Project supports local development in the historical Birgi village in Izmir and the newly opened Practice Center in the village will be the epicenter of all the works conducted to enable sustainable transformation at the destination.
Read More
26.Jun.2025
‘Birgi Current Situation Analysis’ and ‘Birgi Marketing and Promotion Strategy’ Meetings
During the meetings held in Birgi on March 20–21, 2025, the reports on the ‘Birgi Current Situation Analysis’ and ‘Birgi Marketing and Promotion Strategy’ were shared with public institutions and local businesses.
Read More
Never miss any news about SENTRUM!
Subscribe to our newsletter to discover the future of sustainable tourism and get the latest news about the SENTRUM project.
Sign up for newsletter
If you would like to receive our content by e-mail, sign up for our newsletter!
  • Newsletter!
  • About SENTRUM
  • What is Green and Sustainable Tourism?
  • Green Destinations
  • Green Ideas
  • Media Center
  • Blog | Columns
  • Awards
  • Newsletter
  • Reports
  • Global Sustainable Tourism Program
© 2024, SENTRUM All Rights Reserved.

We use mandatory, functional, analytical and marketing cookies for an active user experience and improvement efforts on our website.For detailed information on the use of cookies, you can review our Cookie Policy, change your preferences or proceed by accepting all cookies.

My Cookie Preferences

My cookie preferences

We use cookies on our website to evaluate our visitors' preferences for an active user experience and for our improvement studies. Apart from the necessary and functional cookies required for the operation of the site, analytical and marketing cookies will not be used unless you enable them, and you have the opportunity to withdraw your consent at any time. You can mark those that you allow to be processed, and you can review our text to have more detailed information about cookies.

Manage Consent Preferences
Necessary Cookies

These are cookies used for the functional and secure operation of our website. Failure to use these cookies affects the operation of the website.

Functional Cookies

These are cookies used for the development of website content in an appropriate and reliable manner and to increase customer satisfaction. The use of these cookies only prevents inappropriate use of website content.

Analytical Cookies

These are cookies used to help us improve our website by collecting information about how you use it.

Marketing Cookies

These are cookies used to increase customer satisfaction and our sales and marketing activities.