Date	26.02.2025
Department	Faculty of Tourism
SDG

On February 26, 2025, the Faculty of Tourism at Necmettin Erbakan University (NEÜ) organized a panel titled "Sustainable Recreation and Ecological Footprint." The event, held in the Faculty of Tourism Conference Hall, focused on the environmental impact of sustainable recreation practices and strategies to reduce the ecological footprint. The panel featured Prof. Dr. Mehmet Demirel, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, as the keynote speaker, while Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Ali Erdoğan from the Department of Tourist Guiding served as the moderator. Discussions centered on sustainable tourism policies, environmentally friendly recreation activities, and raising individual awareness regarding ecological conservation. In his speech, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Demirel emphasized the need for new strategies to minimize the environmental impact of recreational activities. He also highlighted that sustainable tourism is not solely the responsibility of industry professionals but also of individuals who participate in recreational activities. Throughout the event, critical issues such as climate change, conservation of natural resources, and maintaining ecological balance were addressed. Participants stressed the importance of promoting eco-friendly tourism alternatives and sustainable recreation practices to minimize environmental harm. The panel attracted significant interest from students, who actively engaged in discussions on the future of sustainable recreation and its environmental impact. Many participants expressed the need for universities to take a leading role in developing initiatives that promote sustainable tourism and ecological awareness. NEÜ Faculty of Tourism announced that it will continue to support educational programs and awareness campaigns focused on environmentally responsible tourism and recreation practices in the future.