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Giresun Island, described as the only habitable island in the Eastern Black Sea, is nearing the end of a comprehensive site-improvement project designed to open it to tourism. The island preserves remains from the Middle Ages —including defensive walls, a ruined monastery, a chapel, a cistern, and graves—and hosts birdlife such as cormorants. Works are advancing under the “Giresun Island Environmental Arrangement Implementation Project,” carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye.
With a project budget of ₺32 million (over $765,5K), crews are laying out walking paths and scenic terraces, while also installing a welcome center, security units, a ticket booth, a cafe, toilets, directional signs, and lighting.
Officials say the on-island infrastructure has reached its final stretch, and the facilities have been organized to guide visitors through the archaeological remains without disrupting them.
Governor Mehmet Fatih Serdengecti, AK Party Giresun MP Ali Temur, Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Erdem Kilavuz, Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen President Ali Kara, along with public officials and political party representatives, reviewed the works on site. After the inspection, the governor said a significant phase was about to finish and noted that the long-standing stalemate over the island was finally breaking.
“We used to say, ‘The island is looking at us, and we are looking at the island’,” he said. He added that the new paths, terraces, welcome center, security, ticketing point, cafe, toilets, directional signage, and lighting were close to completion, projecting that Giresun Island would become a key Black Sea destination expected to draw thousands of visitors.
He underlined that this was a strategic step for Giresun’s tourism and stated that authorities planned to open the island to tourism very soon.
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