Introduction
The Tourism for Everyone Association of Izmir closed 2025 with a momentum that proved accessibility is not a side project but a core business and cultural imperative. Facing limited resources, a lean volunteer base, and tight timelines, the organization elevated accessibility from aspiration to everyday practice. Their central belief remains simple and powerfully transformative: access to tourism and culture is a fundamental right, not a privilege. The year’s work demonstrates how rights-based advocacy, capacity building, and practical on-the-ground experiences can cohere into tangible gains for visitors with diverse needs, local communities, and the tourism industry.
Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy: Building the policy-and-people bridge
A recurring theme of 2025 was strengthening relationships with local and national institutions to align tourism policy with accessibility objectives. Notable engagement included discussions with the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency about national strategies for accessible tourism, signaling intent to scale successful local practices across Türkiye. In March, the association signed a landmark protocol with the Izmir Chamber of Tourist Guides (IZRO), creating an institutional foothold for accessibility in tourism that extends beyond pilot projects to a sustainable, industry-wide framework. The organization also collaborated with Bornova, Çiğli, and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality teams, contributing to disability policy development and planning processes that shape how cities welcome visitors with disabilities.
EU-Funded Project: Advancing Accessible Museums as Living Culture
Under the CultureCIVIC grant programme, the EU-funded project “Accessible Museums for a Living Culture” sought to reimagine museums as inclusive spaces for all audiences. Workshops hosted at Izmir Katip Çelebi University brought together Ministry representatives, academics, and people with disabilities to discuss standards for accessible museum experiences across multiple disability groups. In December, the association delivered training on Accessible Interpretation Approaches to 50 museum staff and professional guides at the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, reinforcing a culture of inclusive communication. On-site assessments at the Göztepe Arkas Art Center Painting Museum involved participants from diverse disability communities, enabling real-world testing of accessibility features and staff responses. These activities align with broader EU priorities for cultural heritage accessibility and demonstrate practical pathways for museums to widen participation.
Accessible Travel Experiences: Turning Concept into Lived Inclusion
In 2025, accessibility moved from concept to lived experience with high-visibility programs that showcased what barrier-free travel can look like in practice. A pioneering international cruise in July made the coastlines of Rhodes, Leros, and Samos accessible to visually impaired travelers and their companions, demonstrating that with thoughtful planning, international travel can be inclusive and enjoyable for all. The association complemented these journeys with documentary screenings—“From Ephesus to Pergamon”—to broaden awareness during awareness weeks in Izmir and Manisa. Guided, accessible cultural tours along routes such as Basmane, Kültürpark, Ödemiş, and Birgi offered heritage experiences through inclusive narration, tactile exploration, and shared discovery, backed by professional guides trained in accessibility best practices.
Education, Arts, and Awareness: Interdisciplinary Engagement for Sustainable Change
The 2025 program also emphasized education and arts initiatives that deepen the sector’s capacity for inclusive practice. A five-day pilot Dance Therapy workshop for visually impaired participants, conducted in collaboration with Tanz der Kulturen Berlin and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, introduced an innovative modality for engagement through movement. Academic collaborations with Dokuz Eylül University and Izmir Katip Çelebi University produced talks on Inclusive Careers and Accessible Tourism, supporting evidence-based approaches to workforce development. The association’s leadership leveraged media appearances on TRT Radio 1 and Can Radio to articulate the societal importance of accessible tourism, extending influence beyond participants to policymakers and the broader public.
Advocacy and Policy Development: Rights-Based Momentum for Izmir and Türkiye
Advocacy remained a central pillar, with ongoing support for petitions within the “365 Days We Are Disabled” platform and active participation in rights-based meetings with Bornova’s mayor. Through Vision 2074 and World Café studies, the association contributed to planning efforts that shape Izmir’s 50-year strategy, embedding accessibility and independent living as core elements of the city’s future. This long-range perspective underscores how accessibility initiatives can co-evolve with urban planning and regional development, producing resilient ecosystems for inclusive tourism.
Practical Implications for Business, Technology, and Policy
- Align digital experiences with WCAG guidance: The association’s work in museums, travel, and events illustrates that accessibility spans both physical environments and digital touchpoints. Organizations serving tourists should evaluate booking sites, ticketing portals, maps, and content for keyboard operability, screen-reader compatibility, sufficient contrast, and alternative formats for information. Refer to WCAG guidelines as a baseline for digital accessibility (W3C WCAG family, 2.x/2.2) and implement a remediation plan with measurable milestones. (WCAG 2.x guidance)
- Build partnerships with local and national authorities: The Izmir IZRO protocol and conversations with the Turkish TGA show how formal collaborations can transfer pilot outcomes into policy, funding, and standard-setting. Consider establishing advisory boards that include representatives of disability communities and industry partners to ensure programs scale responsibly.
- Invest in staff training and inclusive interpretation: The EU-funded museum work demonstrates the value of training for staff and guides in accessible interpretation. For tourism operators, training should cover sensory experiences, alternative media, tactile models, and inclusive storytelling—practices that can be adopted in museums, tours, and hospitality settings.
- Design experiences with independent mobility in mind: Accessible itineraries, tactile elements, and accessible transport planning expand participation. When designing itineraries or on-site experiences, factor transportation, rest opportunities, and clear signage to support independent travel.
- Measure impact with participant feedback and audits: The program’s on-site visits and staff trainings provide a model for evaluating accessibility through participant feedback, staff competence, and environment audits. Use structured feedback forms and third-party accessibility audits to track progress over time.
- Leverage international and regional frameworks: ENAT membership and EU cultural accessibility initiatives offer a framework for cross-border collaboration and funding opportunities. Engage with networks that promote best practices and share learning across regions.
Legal and standards context for compliance professionals
The Tourism for Everyone Association’s initiatives align with broader international and national accessibility imperatives that compliance professionals should monitor. In digital spaces, WCAG provides the most widely adopted framework for making websites, booking systems, and digital content perceivable, operable, and understandable for all users (W3C WCAG). In many jurisdictions, accessibility requirements for public and commercial services are anchored in national laws and EU directives, including obligations to provide accessible information and services. In the United States, the ADA and Section 508 standards have long guided accessible digital and physical environments for services and public accommodations. While Türkiye is gradually expanding its accessibility policies, working with ENAT and EU-backed projects demonstrates how regional commitments are converging toward consistent accessibility expectations across sectors. (ADA.gov; EU Directive 2016/2102; WCAG references)
Conclusion: A Blueprint for 2026 and Beyond
The 2025 activities of the Tourism for Everyone Association reflect a deliberate shift from advocacy to implementation. By strengthening partnerships, advancing inclusive cultural experiences, and embedding accessibility into planning and education, the organization built a durable infrastructure for accessible tourism in Izmir and beyond. The 2026 agenda—anchored in their strategic plan—promises continued progress and invites broader participation from businesses, developers, and accessibility professionals who share a commitment to inclusive travel. As the field evolves, the association’s experience offers practical templates: formal partnerships with tourism stakeholders, EU- and nationally funded accessibility projects, staff training for inclusive interpretation, and the integration of accessibility into long-range urban planning.
İyi çalışmalar / We wish you all the best in your work. Ali Aydoğmuş President of the Tourism for Everyone Association
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The Tourism for Everyone Association is an Associate Member of ENAT. This Report is part of an occasional series of ENAT Members’ News submissions.