Turkey: Alliances for Culture Tourism (ACT) in Eastern Anatolia

The Joint Programme mobilized the culture sector in Turkey’s least developed region – east Anatolia -- with the aim of increasing incomes and enhancing understanding of “shared” culture between the people of eastern Anatolia and of neighboring countries, and among people of different faiths.

The Programme built the capacities of managers of cultural assets, local authorities and civil society in eastern Anatolia to protect the region's rich cultural heritage while also implementing sustainable tourism practices by providing business development services in various sectors.

At the end of the Programme, local authorities and civil society were able to identify and manage shared culture assets in line with international norms, and to respect the way that people in other countries, from other backgrounds or of different faiths than their own value those cultural assets. Similarly, an increased understanding of shared culture was achieved at the national level.

This Joint Programme was launched in December 2008 and was closed in April 2012.