One of the fundamental purposes of a tourist destination is to differentiate itself from rival destinations. Utilizing the historical, natural, and cultural assets of a destination that make it unique and distinctive in destination branding efforts often yields more effective results. The local community, being one of the key stakeholders in destination branding, not only contributes to the differentiation of destinations but also forms the most influential group in selling the brand. The aim of this study is to determine the perspective of the local community on tourism activities in a tourist destination that has differentiated itself in various aspects from other destinations. For this purpose, Eskikaraağaç village (Leylekköy), located in the province of Bursa, was selected as the research area. The village, known for hosting storks, was included in the European Stork Village Network in 2011, making it the sole representative of European stork villages in Türkiye. In addition, the friendship between Âdem Amca and Yaren the stork has become a symbol of the village, significantly contributing to its recognition. With all these features and attractions, tourism activities in the village have been increasing each year, and the local community has become an integral part of these tourist movements. This qualitative study used interview method to gather data on the local community's thoughts on tourism activities in the village, their satisfaction levels, their roles in tourism movements, and their communication with tourists. The findings of the study indicate that the local population is generally satisfied with tourism development, derives economic benefits from tourism activities, and does not encounter any issues in communication with tourists.