“Barrier-Free Tourism and Health” conference was hosted by University of Kyrenia, coordinated by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and organized in cooperation with the TRNC Prime Ministry Disability Services Coordination Board and Near East University Center of Excellence Social Research and Development Center.
According to the press release issued by the University of Kyrenia Press and Public Relations Directorate, the conference held at the University of Kyrenia campus was attended by President Mustafa Akıncı's wife Meral Akıncı, Minister of Labor and Social Security Zeki Çeler, Kyrenia Mayor Nidai Güngördü, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmet Esenyel, Rector of University of Kyrenia Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, President of Near East University Center of Excellence Prof. Dr. Nedime Serakıncı, Vice Rectors of University of Kyrenia Prof. Dr. Gökmen Dağlı and Prof. Dr. Rüveyde Bundak, President of Cyprus Health Tourism Council Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay and Prof. Dr. Fahriye Altınay, Co-Chairs of the Social Research and Development Center affiliated to the Center of Excellence, Günay Kibrit, President of the Cyprus Turkish Orthopedically Handicapped Association, academicians and students attended the event.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Altınay, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at University of Kyrenia, made the opening speech after the National Anthem was recited accompanied by sign language and thanked the Günsel Family for their support for these meaningful initiatives. Emphasizing that tourism is an important economic factor in Northern Cyprus, Altınay emphasized the importance of accessibility and human rights.
Near East University Center of Excelence President Prof. Dr. Nedime Serakıncı stated that the visibility of people with disabilities in life has increased and that they have been pioneering strong initiatives since 2013 with the Social Research and Development Center for awareness.
University of Kyrenia Rector Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu emphasized the necessity and value of the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Human Rights and stated that within this framework, University of Kyrenia's University of Refresher University for the Over 60s was established and started to provide refresher education to the elderly.
Günay Kibrit, President of the Cyprus Turkish Orthopedically Disabled Association, stated that the desired level has not yet been reached in terms of increasing the living standards of the disabled and ensuring their full and equal participation in society.
“ Meral Akıncı: Participation of People with Disabilities in Employment is Important
Meral Akıncı then took the floor and said that the number of disabled people in society is increasing day by day, but the disabled are a segment of society that is not sufficiently visible in society. Emphasizing that it is a human right for disabled people to be in life, Akıncı stated that it is the duty of not only local governments but also the state to take measures to facilitate their lives for this purpose; to make arrangements from architectural structures to public transportation and employment. Meral Akıncı expressed her regret that the employment of disabled people in the state, which is 5 percent, has dropped to 4 percent and emphasized that the self-confidence and self-esteem of a disabled person will develop more with the employment of a disabled person in business life. Akıncı said, ’Let's fulfill the wishes of the disabled. Let us, those without disabilities, contribute to their lives by providing them the happiness, peace, socialization and integration they want.“.
Nidai Güngördü ”Everyone Has a Duty to Overcome the Problems Experienced by People with Disabilities in Society"
Kyrenia Mayor Nidai Güngördü stated that everyone has a duty to overcome the problems faced by disabled people in society and that they are ready to do their part.
Zeki Çeler ”As the Ministry, we are ready to fulfill our duties”
Minister of Labor Zeki Çeler stated that studies on the awareness of individuals with special needs should be increased and that they are ready to do their part as a ministry.
“ Başaran: We Must Create a Disabled Friendly Island “
Daha sonra söz alan Sağlık Konseyi Başkanı Yard. Doç. Dr. Ahmet Savaşan, amaçlarından birinin Kuzey Kıbrıs’taki engelli bireylerin turizme katılmasını sağlamak olduğunu ifade etti. Savaşan, “ Dünyada 650 milyon engelli turizm faaliyetlerine katılabiliyor. Engelli turizmi kapsamında oluşan pazarın büyüklüğü 117 milyar doları aştı. Avrupa Komisyonu’nun yayınladığı rapora göre, 2020 yılında turizm faaliyetlerine katılan engellilerin sayılarının daha da artacağı ve buna bağlı olarak engelli turizm pazarının genel turizm pazarı içindeki payının %25 olacağı öngörülmektedir” dedi.
Ahmet Savaşan: ”It is pleasing that municipalities in our country are taking many steps to create accessible cities”
Cyprus Health Tourism Council President Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Savaşan emphasized that Northern Cyprus should be accessible for everyone to benefit from education, employment, sports, travel, public services and all common living spaces on the basis of equal opportunity. Ahmet Savaşan emphasized that it is pleasing that municipalities in our country are taking many steps to create accessible cities.
Adem Kuyumcu, President of the Life Without Barriers Academy of Turkey, stated that barrier-free tourism can be defined as facilities and activities that offer free and equal opportunities for everyone to travel, stay, benefit from social spaces, without the help of another person.
“ Adem Kuyumcu: The Rights of People with Disabilities Must Be Respected “
After a break for lunch, Kuyumcu gave a presentation on “Correct Communication and Behavior with Persons with Disabilities” in which he gave detailed information about the ways of communicating correctly and disability classes with visuals and referred to data from Turkey and the world. He gave examples from different parts of the world to the problems faced by disabled individuals in areas such as education and employment and offered solutions. Adem Kuyumcu explained with examples how the news on this issue should be covered in the press and social media and made suggestions on the work that can be done in the TRNC.
The speeches in the workshop, which was organized with the aim of producing solutions to meet the needs of disabled citizens in our country and to increase the opportunities, and which was held with the participation of ministry officials and academicians and with the intense interest of students, were shared in sign language.
The conference was moderated by Assist. Prof. Dr. Emete Toros from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay and Prof. Dr. Fahriye Altınay, Co-Chairs of the Social Research Development Center affiliated to the Near East University Center of Excellence. Following the information and training seminar, barrier-free strategies and activities within the scope of tourism and health were determined in line with the opinions and suggestions of the participants.
After the speeches, Famagusta Special Education Center students performed a dance show and then presented handmade ceramics to Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Mehmet Altınay, Rector of University of Kyrenia Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, Chairman of the TRNC Coordination Board for Persons with Disabilities Günay Kibrit, President of the Near East University Center of Excellence Prof. Dr. Nedime Serakıncı, Kyrenia Mayor Nidai Güngördü, President Mustafa Akıncı's wife Meral Akıncı and Minister of Labor Zeki Çeler.
At the end of the conference, certificates of participation were presented to all participants by University of Kyrenia Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Gökmen Dağlı.
https://www.ajanscyprus.com/girne-universitesinde-engelsiz-turizm-ve-saglik-konferansi/
