Visitors protest exclusive event held in Ephesus Ancient City

Visitors of Turkey’s famous tourist attraction Ephesus Ancient City in Agean İzmir province have protested an exclusive dinner at the Library of Celsus for foreign tourists. While domestic tourists flocked to the ancient city during the Eid Al-Adha holiday, they were barred from entering the famous library due to the event.

Tuesday June 18 2024 12:23 pm

Duvar English

Visitors of Ephesus Ancient City in Aeagen İzmir province on June 17 protested an exclusive dinner event organized by the Windstar Cruises company for the foreign tourists.

As the Eid Al-Adha holiday continues in Turkey, many domestic tourists visited the famous tourist attraction as well. Nonetheless, the Library of Celsus which is one of the most notable part of the ancient site was closed to visitors due to the exclusive event.

As a reaction, domestic tourists protested the event with applause and nationalistic anthems.

Cruise passengers, who first filmed the protest from the tables they were sitting at, left the ancient city after a while. The reactions on social media against the the use and closure of the ancient city for a dinner have also grown.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry has not yet made a statement on the issue.

With the new “night museums” project of the ministry, visitors now can see the ancient city for a longer time contrary to the previous years.

Since 2017, the company has been taking cruise passengers to the ancient city of Ephesus and organizing a dinner in front of the Library of Celsus with an orchestra performance.

Efes halka kapandı #Efes pic.twitter.com/MxD0GlTDuL
— Muhammed Aycan (@MuhammedAycan11) June 17, 2024