Turkish National Hub event: coastal and underwater cultural heritage tourism in the Black Sea, priorities and opportunities for blue economy

Turkish National Hub event: coastal and underwater cultural heritage tourism in the Black Sea, priorities and opportunities for blue economy

Author: Black Sea Assistance Mechanism

The Turkish National Hub held an online event on 5 December 2024 titled “Development of blue economy based on coastal and underwater cultural heritage tourism in the Black Sea: Priorities and Opportunities”. The event was organised within the framework of the Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) in my country and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Transport and Urbanisation. The online event gathered a diverse range of stakeholders, including academia, national authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research organisations active in the field of aquaculture protection and regional tourism serving as a common platform to highlight the potential of the Black Sea’s underwater cultural heritage and its role in fostering innovation and sustainable blue economy development, aiming to contribute not only the region but also to the shared global heritage of humanity.

The event included expert-led presentations showcasing Turkey’s underwater cultural heritage studies, with examples ranging from antiquity to modern history: archaeological discoveries, well-preserved shipwrecks, ancient ports, and trade routes. The presentations facilitated the transfer of experiences and insights, leading to interactive discussions and active participation from stakeholders. These interactive discussions were translated into cooperative proposals for technology-driven projects, such as virtual reality and 3D modelling technologies to map, protect, and capitalise on the economic and cultural standing of the Black Sea region, and proposals promoting sustainable cruise tourism by eco-friendly solutions, such as zero-emission vessels.

Key results and takeaways from the event include opportunities for the Black Sea’s cultural enrichment and sustainable economic development by increasing marine archaeological studies, investing in modern sustainable tourism, preserving the environmental conditions, and optimising cooperation and raising awareness of the region’s historical richness at both regional and international levels. 

The online event also opened the door to follow-up actions and new collaborations, supporting the establishment of a dedicated CMA technical working group on sustainable maritime and coastal tourism with a sub-focus on the topic of underwater cultural heritage preservation. The follow-up actions also include developing regional strategies to integrate underwater cultural heritage into sustainable tourism and blue economy models and fostering joint research projects and capacity-building programmes in collaboration with local stakeholders and international organisations.