The historic village of Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), located in the Ürgüp district of Nevşehir, has been awarded the prestigious title of “Best Tourism Village” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). This significant achievement is a development that certifies the rural tourism potential of the Cappadocia region at an international level.
This prestigious title was obtained as a result of a successful joint effort between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Social and Strategic Studies Application and Research Center (SSCM) of Cappadocia University. As the Cappadocia Cultural Research Center (KAM), we have also been conducting awareness campaigns since 2021 to promote and protect the village’s title through activities such as the “Signage and Promotion of Mustafapaşa” and “Mustafapaşa Best Tourism Village Awareness Development” projects.
The basic criteria that UNWTO considers when awarding this title include comprehensive topics such as the protection of natural and cultural resources, economic and social sustainability, the contribution of tourism to the well-being of the local community, and infrastructure adequacy.
This global recognition is an important source of motivation for KAM’s sustainable tourism projects in terms of preserving Mustafapaşa’s unique identity and adding value to regional tourism. Kapadokya Research Center officials stated that they will continue to work tirelessly to maintain this title and strengthen rural development in the region.
