6,100 Turkey hotels hit first eco target Ian Taylor


More than 6,000 hotels in Turkey (Türkiye) have been certified to stage one of the country’s groundbreaking sustainable tourism programme, developed with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). No more than a few thousand


hotels worldwide have achieved full certification to these standards to date. But by the end of September, 6,156 of Turkey’s 22,000 properties – mainly in Antalya, İstanbul and Muğla – had been certified to stage-one compliance, meeting 14 GSTC criteria. They won’t be able to rest there though. Stage-two compliance


requires they meet 28 criteria, and stage three 42 criteria for full certification. The GSTC is responsible for


setting and managing the global sustainability standards for travel and tourism and has partnered with Cappadocia University to train hundreds of auditors and up to 1,000 verifiers. Its partnership with Turkey


on a national sustainable tourism programme is the first of its kind and forms part of a three-year plan to restructure the country’s tourism industry. The primary goal is to ensure all hotels obtain a Sustainable Tourism Certificate for full compliance with GSTC criteria by 2030, with


Abta LifeLine tips rise in demand for support this winter


Samantha Mayling


Abta LifeLine expects applications for support from cash-strapped agents will rise in the coming weeks as temperatures drop. Director Trudie Clements


said: “Winter is coming and people will be desperately wanting food, fuel and warm clothes. “It can be a grim time, when


people can rack up more debt to afford Christmas; it is a vicious circle, especially with kids.” The charity’s new Wintertime


Assistance Package provides those in need with vouchers for energy, food and clothing to ensure no


6 26 OCTOBER 2023


one has to make the “agonising decision between staying warm or putting food on the table”. Clements said: “Year on year, we


are seeing more applications. Most people have been balancing on a tightrope for a long time. The cost of living could tip over their balance. The heating has just come on and Christmas is coming. “We offer fuel vouchers for those


on prepayment meters to top up their card. That was important last winter and we’ll be doing more this winter.” Most applications for support


come from women and especially single-parent families, which reflects the fact the sector predominantly


employs women. Some applicants are part-time and receive benefits, but others are full-time, and the charity also helps those who have left the industry. “We’re seeing more applicants off


work with long-term sickness and they cannot survive on statutory sick pay,” she said. “And mental health issues can cause financial difficulties, which in turn can worsen mental health.” She said unexpected events can


prompt applications, especially as some on low incomes cannot afford insurance. “Appliance poverty is real – if a machine breaks down, they can’t replace it,” she said. The charity also helps people


It’s externally


certified, [and] hotels at stage one can’t stay there. It’s going along beautifully


certification subject to independent evaluation and repeated regularly. Hotels are evaluated for their


sustainable management and cultural, socio-economic and environmental impacts, including prioritising local and fair-trade suppliers, minimising water and energy consumption, managing waste, implementing recycling and protecting biodiversity.


They are also expected to protect


cultural heritage, enable guests to interact with local culture, support the regional economy, encourage local employment and promote local purchasing. GSTC chief executive Randy


Durband hailed “a wave of certification”, telling the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance conference in London last week: “Turkey has mandated that all the hotels in the country be certified to a GSTC- accredited scheme by 2030. Every hotel must enter. It’s externally certified, [and] those already at stage one can’t stay there. It’s


going along beautifully.” i Business, page 47


Trudie Clements


get advice about debt from experts at Citizens Advice. In the last quarter, advice for applicants has been worth the equivalent of £45,000, with help such as debts being written off or checking for benefits that should be claimed. Clements is now preparing to


fundraise at Abta’s Travel Convention in Bodrum, Turkey (Türkiye), next week. The event is the main source of income for the charity each year. “When I come back from the


convention, I expect the numbers applying [for support] will go up as the temperatures go down,” she said. If you would like information or to donate, visit abtalifeline.org.uk.


travelweekly.co.uk


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