‘Göynük’ to Become the Third Stop of SENTRUM: Sustainable Tourism Commences in the Historic District

“The Center for Tourism Practices Based on Sustainable Energy (SENTRUM)" Project, which has created a transformation story in terms of sustainable tourism, launches the third center of its green destination model in Göynük, a historic district in Bolu.
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As part of the SENTRUM Project, which is carried on thanks to the collaboration of Enerjisa Enerji, UNDP Türkiye, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), Göynük will serve as the third stop to support nature-friendly tourism that focuses on local development, following Küçükköy neighborhood of Ayvalık district in Balıkesir and Birgi village of Ödemiş district in Izmir.

The Center for Tourism Practices Based on Sustainable Energy (SENTRUM) Project, which is led by Enerjisa Enerji and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism as well as Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), continues to expand its impact. The protocol to initiate the sustainable transformation in Göynük, a district in Bolu recognized for its historical heritage and selected as the third destination of the project, was signed at a ceremony held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

The signing ceremony organized in Göynük was attended by Talha Battal, District Governor of Göynük, Ali Oral, Mayor of Göynük, Ebru Taşcıoğlu, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Capabilities at Enerjisa Enerji, Miodrag Dragisic, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Türkiye, as well as local protocol members, and numerous guests.

During the ceremony, the social, environmental, and economic impacts that the SENTRUM model is expected to produce in Göynük were assessed and a roadmap was shared for the works to be completed in numerous fields, including energy efficiency, employment of women and youth, protection of cultural heritage, raising awareness on climate change, etc. As a definitive sign of the impact brought about by the SENTRUM project, analyses conducted in 2025 demonstrated that each 1 TL of investment resulted in 2.34 TL of social benefit.

The green destination model to blend with the historical fabric in Göynük

SENTRUM Projesi kapsamında Göynük’te yürütülecek çalışmalar, ilçenin Küresel Sürdürülebilir Turizm Konseyi (GSTC) kriterleriyle uyumlu bir “yeşil destinasyona” dönüşmesini destekleyecek. Uygulanan model ile turizmin sadece belirli dönemlerle sınırlı kalmayıp dört mevsime yayılması ve yerel kalkınmayı geliştirecek bir ekosistem oluşturulması hedefleniyor. Protokolün imzalanmasıyla birlikte; kamu binalarında enerji etütlerinin yapılması, yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarının kullanımı ve yerel paydaşlara yönelik sürdürülebilir turizm eğitimleri gibi pek çok uygulama Göynük özelinde hayata geçirilecek.

“SENTRUM ile Göynük’te hep birlikte yeni değerler üreteceğiz”

The works to be carried out in Göynük as part of SENTRUM Project will support the district’s transformation into a green destination in line with the criteria of Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The adopted model has the purpose of broadening tourism beyond designated periods and including all four seasons, while fostering an ecosystem that will improve local development. As the protocol has been signed, several practices, including conducting energy surveys in public buildings, utilizing renewable energy resources, and providing training to local stakeholders on sustainable tourism will be implemented in Göynük.

“Together with SENTRUM, we will cultivate new values in Göynük”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ebru Taşcıoğlu, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Capabilities at Enerjisa Enerji, stated, “We, at Enerjisa Enerji, keep integrating energy transformation with social responsibility and local development in line with our vision of ‘A Better Future.’ We are thrilled to bring with us the tangible successes and expertise acquired in Küçükköy, Ayvalık and Birgi, Izmir via our SENTRUM Project as we embark on our third destination, Göynük. The point we have reached today shows us that SENTRUM, which has expanded thanks to over 1500 participants, more than thirty training sessions and hundreds of volunteers, has evolved into a tangible transformation model in the locality. Bringing this knowledge to Göynük, we have the goal to further enhance our impact, to build on our current achievements and to build a sustainable future together with local stakeholders.”

“Thanks to the strong cultural identity, rich heritage, and close collaboration among local stakeholders in Göynük, we are confident that we will set an inspiring example.”

During the ceremony, Miodrag Dragisic, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Türkiye, stated: “We are incredibly pleased to initiate the activities in Göynük, the third destination of the SENTRUM Project. Through a robust stakeholder engagement strategy, we are committed to promoting a more environmentally friendly and inclusive destination model that aligns with national development priorities, adheres to the global sustainable tourism agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, and prioritizes local values. Thanks to the strong cultural identity, rich heritage, and close collaboration among local stakeholders in Göynük, we are confident that we will set an inspiring example in creating sustainable destinations throughout this collaborative journey.”