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Learning from disabled people about qualities and obstacles in historic cities; The case of Liège
Eisazadeh, Negin; Heylighen, Ann; Houbart, Claudine
2019In 6th Unesco UNITWIN Conference 2019: Value of Heritage for Tourism, Leuven 8-12 April 2019
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Keywords :
disabled people; inclusive tourism; Liège; user/expert
Abstract :
[en] The historic hearts of many European cities are famous touristic destinations which are sought after by various local and international visitors. However, the many restrictions and obstacles within the historic fabric limit the diversity of visitors who can access and benefit from these sites. Disabled people – i.e., those with sensory, mobility or mental abilities differing from the general public’s – are often inadvertently excluded from the touristic experience of historic cities. This exclusion from sharing the story of the past narrated through the historical architecture and urban spaces leads to further marginalization and disconnection from society. By contrast, opening up the historic built environment to a broader and more diverse audience facilitates their interaction not only with the past but also with other members of society while on par. This can potentially strengthen their connection to the heritage and additionally improve the link between people as a step towards more inclusive societies. In recent years there has been an increased interest in inclusive tourism resulting in multiple publications and conferences focused on this subject. Accessible historic city centres, in addition to having a positive impact on attracting a broad group of diverse visitors, ease the daily interaction of diverse residents. As part of a broader research which seeks to investigate the necessity, means and methods for adopting an inclusive approach in the conservation of historic built environment, this paper investigates the interaction of disabled people with the historic fabric of a European city, Liège. A person with an impairment who is confronted with disabling situations in their daily life has a unique expertise-by-experience, offering a fresh point of view in understanding the built environment that can lead to insights and solutions for creating spaces that are more suitable for all users. In the context of the historic urban space in Liège, collaborating with such diverse ‘user/experts’, in a bottom-up approach, this research attends to their experience and insights to identify the existing limitations and potentials. The city tour for each user/expert is planned based on a scenario and the routes by adapting the relevant tourist guide booklets of the Liège tourism office (Maison du Tourisme). The user/experts’ experience and statements regarding their visit and the researchers’ observation of this interaction reveal the qualities and obstacles that exist regarding opportunities for inclusive tourism in this historic city. Seeking to allow the broadest possible group of people to wander and navigate through the historic heart of a European city, this research is a step towards informing professional experts’ decisions for making the historic fabric more inclusive for residents and tourists. Such studies contribute to creating a knowledge and experience base which can gradually shift the prevalent commonly inadvertent exclusivity in the tourism practice to clear and consciously informed choices regarding inclusion that can improve the sense of belonging and attachment among residents and visitors.
Disciplines :
Architecture
History
Author, co-author :
Eisazadeh, Negin ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'Architecture > Architecture Site Outremeuse
Heylighen, Ann
Houbart, Claudine  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'Architecture > Architecture Site Outremeuse
Language :
English
Title :
Learning from disabled people about qualities and obstacles in historic cities; The case of Liège
Publication date :
April 2019
Event name :
6th Unesco UNITWIN Conference 2019: Value of Heritage for Tourism
Event place :
Leuven, Belgium
Event date :
from 08-04-2019 to 12-04-2019
Audience :
International
Main work title :
6th Unesco UNITWIN Conference 2019: Value of Heritage for Tourism, Leuven 8-12 April 2019
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Available on ORBi :
since 14 May 2019

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