“We will consider Erzurum and its environs as an important destination” said Mr. Sinan Haliç, Head of HTC Tour and Director of Nature, Environment and Sustainable Tourism Commitee of TURSAB.

The visit was organized by KUDAKA (Northestern Anatolia Development Agency) in October 2011. KUDAKA’s support in promoting tourism sector in the region in cooperation national actors like TURSAB is one of the main outputs of the increasing tourism awareness in the region.
http://www.kudakaturizm.org

Almost 120 birdwatchers and bird photographers coming from all over Turkey and from abroad had the chance to watch migrating raptors during the festival. The festival was organized under the scope of “Tourism Development in Eastern Anatolia Region Project” (TDEAP*) for the fourth time this year. Participation to the festival is growing among the relevant interest groups when compared to the previous years.

On the 24th of September the participants left Erzurum-Uzundere-Pehlivanlı Camping Site with the guidance of experts from “Nature Research Society”. The group reached Kılıçkaya (2500 meters high above sea level) and then climbed up to Karadağ. More than 20 bird species were identified by the bird watchers among the thousands of migrating raptors above the magnificient view of the Coruh Valley.

For the first time this year 15 hearing-impared students coming from Erzurum Vocational High School and 30 elementary school children coming from Uzundere were the participants of the festival. On the 25th of September the children had experienced bird watching activities and educational games to raise awareness about the biological diersity and nature with the guidance of experts of Nature Research Society at Uzundere Zugar Open air Facilities.

For more information on the subject of bird species and relevant brochures of Coruh Valley you may follow the links below:

http://www.choruh.com/en/doga/coruh-vadisi-faunasi/kuslar

http://www.choruh.com/galeri/brochures

• Images

The main reason for implementing such a training program is the fact that Uzundere has a great potential in gastronomy with its inherited traditional cuisine based on local fruit and vegetables. To build that potential as a market niche in local tourism, a capacity enhancement training was needed to serve a better local cuisine with proper recipes.

The objective of the trainings were threefold; such as
1. Enhancing capacities of the owners and employees of the present bed and breakfast and daily tourist businesses in the field of gastronomy and local food preparation.
2. Building capacity among local women in the field of gastronomy and local food preparation and thus encouraging them to start their own businesses.
3. Improving local cuisine with proper recipes and establishing all necessary standards for their preparation.

With the completion of the trainings, deserts and vegetables unique to the region have begin to be served in all home pansions and daily tourism businesses thus created the chance for every tourist to enjoy the special taste of local cuisine.

*TDEAP jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Coruh Valley.
www.datur.com / www.coruhvalley.com

 Pelin Kihtir Öztürk (TDEAP Project Assistant)

0090 0312 454 1183

pelin.kihtir@undp.org

The most important flyway for bird migration on Eastern Black Sea Mountains is Coruh Valley. The incredible view of thousands of raptors flying over the valley everyday during fall migration is like a matchless invitation to the bird watchers.

You can have a chance to get trainings and experience this incredible migration of raptors in the company of prefessional guides during festival.

*TDEAP, jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Coruh Valley.
www.datur.com / www.coruhvalley.com

Since 2007, Tourism Development in Eastern Anatolia Project (TDEAP-DATUR)* has created capacities in the field of bed and breakfast and daily tourism businesses. Coruh Valley has doubled its number of accomodation facilities. The number reached to 50 where Uzundere became a new destination. In Uzundere there were none facility in 2007, now there are 6 B&Bs (home pansions) and 2 small-sized hotels reaching a total of 85 bed capacity.

After achievement of their certificates, the owners of the pansions and daily tourism businesses concentrated on the trainings of local cusine. The receipees unique to the region were collected and experimented by the local women and one of the gurmes of Turkey, under the scope of TDEAP. After completion of the trainings which will be held on August and September 2011 everyone will have the chance to enjoy the special taste of local food in all home pansions and daily tourism businesses.

*TDEAP jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Coruh Valley.
www.datur.com / www.coruhvalley.com

In order to manufacture such souvenirs, original designs were created by ceramics artist Atila ÇAKIR and along the training program applied to models. It is expected that designing, modelling and moulding of local souvenirs and manufacturing them with a market orientation in an on-site manufacturing and training atmosphere will create  a sustainable capacity among  local women and this capacity will result in entrepreneurial activities in this respect.

Tablets displaying Oskvank (Çamlıyamaç) Church, Tortum Waterfall and Medresah with Twin Minarets, doodahs of two-headed eagle, mountain goat and squirrel, pots, bowls and magnets decorated with motifs unique to the region are available in the atelier and various sale points in Uzundere and Erzurum.

The women initiative of Uzundere (UZKADER) will undertake future manufacturing process in the atelier with the support of TDEAP and Uzundere Municipality. Besides tourist souvenir business, UZKADER and TDEAP are also working in close cooperation to develop the skills for natural fruit processing, packaging and labelling to maximize the use of the potential in miscellaneous commercial ways.

*TDEAP jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Çoruh Valley.

www.datur.com / www.coruhvalley.com