From Bergama to Ephesus Accessible Documentary
July 2022 - July 2023
IZMIR
From Bergama to Ephesus Accessible Documentary project was held in İzmir, the only city with two sites included in UNESCO's World Heritage list.
As of 2021, the UNESCO World Heritage List has 1121 sites located in 167 states party to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. With 18 sites, Turkey ranks 13th among 167 party states. İzmir is the only city with two sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Pergamon (Bergama) was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2014 and Ephesus in 2015. The application for the Izmir Kemeraltı region and its surroundings to be included in the tentative list was accepted by UNESCO in 2020. Kemeraltı region is an important part of the Genoese Trade Route, which also includes Birgi, Gediz Delta, Foça, Çandarlı and Çeşme castles.
An accessibility documentary was shot within the scope of the project in Ephesus, Bergama and Kemeraltı considering the needs of the disabled. The documentary consists of 3 episodes, each of which last approximately 30 minutes. It have sections such as "how to reach relevant sites" and "what should people with disabilities pay attention to while visiting". In addition, all audiences with disabilities are included, by adding audio description for the visually impaired and sign language translation for the hearing impaired.
During From Bergama to Ephesus Accessible Documentary project, individuals with different disabilities or their relatives visited relevant ruins and sites. Each episode was shot with the participation of approximately 20 people. It was completed in 9 months.
Association of Tourism for All
Association of Tourism for All was established in 2013 with the aim of increasing the quality of life of the disabled through tourism activities, culture, arts and sports activities. The association is the only one working in the field of accessible tourism in Turkey.
Since its establishment, Association of Tourism for All has been organizing tours to historical places such as Ephesus, Bergama and Çanakkale Battlefield Cemeteries, accompanied by professional guides, and visits to the Archaeology Museum, Radio and Democracy Museum and similar museums in İzmir, organizing seminars at universities to raise awareness about accessible tourism.