Şirince Village has been selected as the ‘World’s Best Tourism Village’ in the ‘Best Tourism Villages’ awards organized within the scope of the 25th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Within the scope of the ‘Best Tourism Village’ initiative launched by UNWTO in 2021, destinations with a population of up to 15 thousand, maintaining traditional lifestyle and values, and having rural development potential are rewarded.
This year, along with Şirince Village from Turkey, Erzincan’s Kemaliye and Antalya’s Kale Üçağız villages were also eligible to participate in the ‘Improvement Programme’.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı, who made evaluations after the award ceremony, said, “We stated that if there is to be a good tourism strategy in the world, there must be peace and tranquility.
People have breakfast at a lodge in Şirince village. Photo AA
“We expressed that we should not remain silent about the brutality happening right next to us and that peace is a need for everyone in the world. Tourism that is sustainable and at peace with nature is what everyone desires. “We explained Turkey’s work in this direction in 2023.”
Selçuk Mayor Filiz Ceritoğlu Sengel said, “Şirince is a very cute village as its name suggests. The village says hello to you with the authenticity of its Greek houses that do not block each other’s view. It preserves its cultural values and is an important village in terms of gastronomy. It is a village where beliefs come together and you can see this brotherhood. That’s why we welcome everyone to Şirince.”
History of Şirince
The history of Şirince dates back to before Christ. In the 19th century, it was a Greek town with 1,800 households, famous for its fig production, especially for export.
After the Greeks left as a result of the Turkey-Greece Population Exchange in 1923, it was settled with exchanges coming from Kavala’s Müştiyan and Somokol villages.
St. John Baptist Church. Photo: Kadınvs
In Şirince, no house blocks the view of the other. When we look at the village architecture, it is noticeable that the architecture of Southern Albania has been preserved.
Choosing Şirince as the best tourism village in the world will make a significant contribution to Turkey’s tourism potential and rural development goals.
This award for Şirince shows that Turkey’s sustainable and nature-friendly tourism approach is also appreciated internationally.