Historical Development of the Unit
Our Vocational School was established in Yeşilova, one of the charming districts of Burdur, on 15.01.2016, in accordance with the 7/d-2 article amended by Law No. 2880 of the Higher Education General Assembly Law No. 2547. Yeşilova district is 60 km away from Burdur city center, 90 km from Denizli city center, and 145 km from Antalya city center. It has an area of 1351 km² and is located at an altitude of 1150 m. Yeşilova İsmail Akın Tourism Vocational School is 2 km away from the district center. In the 3-story building of Yeşilova İsmail Akın Tourism Vocational School, which is completed on an area of 4069 m², there are a sufficient number of classrooms, an amphitheater, and a practice kitchen. The total closed area is approximately 5173 m². (Ground Floor: 1.777 m², 1st Floor: 1.698 m², 2nd Floor: 1.698 m²) There are 2 departments within Yeşilova İsmail Akın Tourism Vocational School.
These departments are the Tourist Guidance Program under the Department of Travel-Tourism and Entertainment Services, and the Tourism and Hotel Management and Culinary Programs under the Department of Hotel-Restaurant and Catering Services.
With the apartment and hostel facilities available in Yeşilova district, it provides our students with more comfortable accommodation opportunities. Yeşilova district and our İsmail Akın Tourism Vocational School have easy access. Yeşilova is located between the provinces of Denizli-Burdur-Antalya-Muğla. It can be reached by direct bus services from all the mentioned provinces. Air transportation is provided by Denizli Çardak Airport, which is 50 km away, Isparta Süleyman Demirel Airport, which is 85 km away, and Antalya Airport, which is 170 km away.
In Yeşilova district, there are unique nature and lake views, forests, streams, rivers, mountains, historical and cultural values within rural areas that have significant resources in terms of tourism. The forest and mountainous areas are rich in hunting and wildlife, with species such as partridge, rabbit, wild boar, and quail living there. Salda Lake, Salda Ski Center, local dishes, and local handicrafts are rich enough to enable the implementation of rural tourism. Salda Lake, with its natural beaches that have the characteristic of Mars soil surrounding it, is also referred to as Turkey's Maldives. Salda Lake was accepted as a Natural Protected Area in 1989. During the months with heavy snowfall, skiing can be done at Salda Ski Center located on Tınaztepe of Eşeler Mountain, and in spring and summer months, swimming, sailing, fishing, camping activities, and water sports can be done at Salda Lake.
As of 2023, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) started implementing a fully applied education model at Yeşilova İsmail Akın Tourism Vocational School. A tourism education complex was created in a location intertwined with nature, near Salda Lake, which is visited by many domestic and foreign tourists every year with its unique beauty. On the ground floor of the education complex, there is the Tourism Vocational School; on the second and third floors, Salda Lavender Hill Hotel operates. Within the scope of the fully applied education model, the courses included in the curriculum were integrated with hotel management. Thus, a unique example of fully applied education was created.