Hotels in Alanya are in a very difficult situation: they are expecting government support

The Tourism Sector in Alanya Faces a Heavy Financial Burden Due to New Fire Safety Measures

Hotel owners, in particular, report facing high costs to comply with these measures and are calling for government support.

Many new regulations have been introduced to ensure that hotels in tourist areas meet fire safety standards. However, these regulations have resulted in significant expenses for existing hotels. Servet Şakiroğlu, President of the Cleopatra Hoteliers Association, stated that these new requirements put enormous pressure on hotel operators:

"Fire safety is important for all of us, and of course, necessary precautions must be taken. However, hotels operating with existing licenses are now required to make renovations in parts of the buildings where changes are structurally impossible. In some cases, this means completely demolishing and rebuilding the hotel, which imposes an immense financial burden."

Challenges of Renovation During the Tourism Season

With the tourist season still ongoing, hotels have high occupancy rates, making large-scale renovations a major challenge. Şakiroğlu described how this process is affecting businesses:

"Hoteliers must both accommodate guests and meet fire safety requirements at the same time. For example, replacing all doors in a hotel is now mandatory. However, this is not only a financial challenge but also a logistical one. These doors are extremely difficult to procure, and labor costs have skyrocketed."

Costs Have Risen Exponentially

Over the past few years, tourism businesses have already faced economic difficulties due to rising costs, but the new fire safety regulations have created an additional financial crisis. Şakiroğlu explained the scale of price increases:

"Door prices have risen by 500% recently. Even if we manage to purchase them, finding skilled workers to do the job is another major problem. Labor costs have surged to unprecedented levels. For small and medium-sized hotels, making these renovations is almost impossible."

Expectations from the Government: Financial Support and Extended Deadlines

Hoteliers are calling for the government to extend the deadline for these changes and provide financial support. Şakiroğlu emphasized that many hotels are already struggling due to high taxes:

"The tourism sector is already battling heavy tax burdens. Over the past 3-4 years, rising costs have pushed many hotels to the brink of closure. Even now, a large number of hotels are up for sale. If the government aims to collect $60 billion in tax revenue, it must support tourism businesses to ensure these revenues remain sustainable."