Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Implementations in the European Union and Turkey

Enacted in 2009, Lisbon Treaty defines the framework of the European Union’s tourism policy. Accordingly, the European Union is mandated to take relevant actions for increasing the competitive power of the tourism undertakings, and carry out coordinating actions among Member States for disseminating the best practices throughout Europe. No doubt that gaining competitive advantage by the European undertakings is closely linked to the concept of sustainability, while achieving sustainability in tourism is of common responsibility for all stakeholders. In this respect, the European Union has taken a number of action in line with the sustainable and responsible tourism strategy. European Tourism Indicators System for Sustainable Destination Management, Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, EcoLabel are some of the tools employed at European level. The aim of this paper is to develop policy recommendations for Turkey by referring to the sustainable and responsible tourism practices at the European Union. In this respect, it is suggested that recognition of our destinations on international scale by way of integration with international platforms should be realized and a European dimension in our national tourism strategy should be inserted. Furthermore, establishing the notion of responsible tourism along with the notion of sustainable tourism should be considered in order to achieve 2023 goals with ease