The Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), entitled “Sustainable Management and Digital Visibility of Ecotourism Destinations” (SuMDiVED), coordinated by Isparta University of Applied Sciences (ISUBÜ), was successfully completed between 21 September and 16 October 2026. Bringing together 9 academics and 26 students from Türkiye, Romania, Poland, Albania, and Lithuania, the programme combined online education with practical field training conducted at five different destinations from 12 to 16 October 2026.
Under the theme “Five Days, Five Themes,” participants explored sustainability and ecotourism practices across different types of tourism destinations through on-site observations and practical training.
Day 1 - Isparta | Urban Sustainability and Ecotourism: Participants examined urban sustainability, cultural heritage, local tourism resources, and practices aimed at enhancing the digital visibility of cities.
Day 2 - Yalvaç | Rural Sustainability and Local Community Involvement in Ecotourism: The programme focused on rural tourism, traditional production, local community participation, and the sustainable management of protected archaeological sites, with particular reference to the ancient city of Pisidian Antioch.
Day 3 - Pamukkale | Sustainable Tourism at UNESCO World Heritage Sites: At Pamukkale-Hierapolis, participants explored the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, visitor management, and sustainable destination management practices.
Day 4 - Köprülü Canyon | Sustainability and Ecotourism in Natural Areas: Field activities addressed nature-based tourism, adventure tourism, natural resource conservation, and environmental sustainability practices.
Day 5 - Antalya | Sustainable Management in Resort Hotels: In cooperation with the Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD), participants received practical training from industry professionals at Limak Lara Hotel and Crystal Centro Hotel. The sessions covered environmental management, resource efficiency, waste management, and sustainable hospitality practices.
Throughout the programme, international student groups transformed their experiences at the destinations into digital content, including photographs, videos, and digital storytelling projects. Shared across various digital platforms, these materials contributed to the international promotion of Isparta's and Türkiye's natural, cultural, and tourism assets.
By sharing their experiences and digital content in their home countries, participants became volunteer tourism ambassadors for Isparta and Türkiye. The dissemination of programme outcomes among partner universities in Romania, Poland, Lithuania, and Albania further extended the programme's reach within international academic communities.
SuMDiVED demonstrated the value of cooperation among universities, local authorities, and the tourism industry in delivering practice-oriented international education. Participants had the opportunity to observe sustainability practices directly and engage with tourism professionals across different destinations.
We sincerely thank the participating and partner universities, Isparta Municipality, Yalvaç Municipality, Gencer Kondal Art House, the Yalvaç Pisidian Antioch Women Entrepreneurs' Cooperative, the Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD), and the management teams of Limak Lara Hotel and Crystal Centro Hotel for sharing their expertise, providing practical training opportunities, and facilitating valuable interactions with international participants.
Bringing together five destinations and five sustainability themes over five days, the SuMDiVED programme combined international cooperation, experiential learning, and digital content creation, contributing to the promotion of Türkiye's sustainable tourism practices.
