KÜN Shapes the Future of Tourism in Türkiye
Kapadokya University is located in Cappadocia, one of Türkiye’s most significant tourism destinations. The University contributes qualified human capital to the tourism sector and conducts a wide range of academic and applied studies aimed at advancing tourism at regional, national, and international levels. With its structure that integrates education and practice, it is an institution that provides both scientific and societal value in the field of tourism.
With its associate degree, bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree programs in Tourist Guiding, KÜN possesses a specialized academic structure in this field. The University, which combines the theoretical knowledge and field experience required for the profession of tourist guiding, is one of the few institutions in Türkiye that holds the official authority to organize applied field excursions.
The Social and Strategic Studies Center (SSCM) at Kapadokya University conducts important planning and analytical studies in the area of tourism. Among these are tourism master plans prepared for various provinces in Türkiye, provincial tourism roadmaps, sustainable tourism practices, and collaborations developed within the frameworks of GSTC and UNWTO. In line with the importance of sustainable tourism for preserving environmental and cultural heritage and supporting local development, the Center provided academic and strategic contributions to the process that led to Mustafapaşa being selected as a “Best Tourism Village.”
To strengthen academic contributions to sustainable tourism, the University has established the Master’s Program in Sustainable Tourism Management (Thesis Track). This program aims to train experts capable of developing scientifically grounded policies and strategies based on sustainability principles in tourism. Given the increasing global environmental awareness and the need for local development, academic expertise in this field provides an essential source of knowledge and solutions for the sector.
The Kapadokya University Center for Continuing Education (SEM) offers short-term, certificate-based training programs for tourism professionals and individuals interested in the sector, thereby supporting lifelong learning through practice-oriented content.
Kapadokya University also undertakes extensive work in the field of gastronomy. Through its Bachelor’s Program in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts and its Master’s Program in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts (Thesis Track), the University trains professionals who are proficient in contemporary culinary techniques, able to interpret gastronomy from an interdisciplinary perspective grounded in cultural heritage, and committed to sustainability principles. Within the scope of departmental research activities, a gastronomy inventory documenting Cappadocia’s traditional culinary culture has been prepared and shared with the public via the GastroCappadocia platform. Additionally, the annual Cappadocia Gastronomy Festival aims to enhance the national and international visibility of the region’s culinary heritage. The Cappadocia Earth Market, meanwhile, stands as an initiative affiliated with t_