Prof. Dr. Neslihan DOSTOĞLU participates in the workshop organized by TARKEM.

Turkiye’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Managers Gathered in İzmir!

The “UNESCO World Heritage Site Managers Meeting” took place in İzmir Kemeraltı on June 16-17, 2022, hosted by the İzmir Historical Port City Site Management and organized by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The meeting was part of the preparations for the UNESCO World Heritage List nomination file for İzmir Historical Port City, which encompasses the Historical Kemeraltı Market, Basmane, Kadifekale, Yassıtepe and Yeşilova Mounds, and Ancient Smyrna sites. The file will be submitted to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism in August 2022 and then to UNESCO.

On the first day of the meeting, June 16, representatives from the Ephesus, Pergamon, Bursa-Cumalıkızık, Ani Archaeological Site, Historic Areas of Istanbul, Nemrut, and Göbeklitepe site managers attended. Presentations were made on topics such as “Management Plan Preparation, Implementation, Monitoring, and Revision Processes,” “Communication and Collaboration in World Heritage Sites,” and “Local Awareness and Education in World Heritage Sites.” These site managers and representatives shared their experiences, projects, and insights regarding the advantages and disadvantages of their respective sites.

On June 17, Kadifekale, the Ancient Theatre, Smyrna Ancient City, the Synagogue District, and Kemeraltı sites were visited. After the site visits, presentations were made about the preparation and promotion process of the İzmir Historical Port City UNESCO World Heritage nomination file. Deputy Governor of İzmir, Mr. İsmail Çorumluoğlu, gave the opening speech on the second day, expressing his pride in hosting the managers of UNESCO World Heritage sites and emphasizing the importance of sharing experiences to contribute significantly to the country’s tourism.

Presentations were then given by experts from İzmir Historical Port City Site, and the other site managers provided feedback and suggestions regarding the İzmir Historical Port City.

As the UNESCO Bursa Site Management team, we wish success to the İzmir Historical Port City Site Management (TARKEM) in their nomination process.

With love and respect…