Fire safety measures in hotels back on the agenda following Uludağ fire
Following the hotel fire in Uludağ, fires occurring in different regions of Turkey and the measures taken have returned to the agenda. The fire resistance of hotels and their compliance with regulations were discussed in a commission established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).
12punto
Ahead of the tourism season, the fire resistance of hotels and the measures taken have returned to the agenda. Following the hotel fire in Uludağ, which resulted in the loss of three lives shortly after the Kartalkaya tragedy, the fire safety regulations for hotels and whether they comply with these regulations have become a subject of debate.
According to a report by Sputnik, the words of Ferhat İlker Ünsever, Legal Advisor to the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), who gave a presentation to the commission established in the TBMM to investigate the Kartalkaya tragedy, have come to mind once again.
'STRICT INSPECTIONS APPLIED IN HOTELS WHERE BRITISH TOURISTS STAY'
In his presentation to the commission, Ünsever had stated the following:
“I want to say this with great sorrow, truly with great sorrow: If customers of a foreign tour operator had been staying at the hotel in Kartalkaya, this disaster would not have occurred. Turkey is known as a country strong in the 'incoming' tourism market. Those operating in the 'incoming' sector have regulations on how they will inspect the facilities in this country where they will host their own tourists.
Look, the booklet I have in my hand right now is in 7 languages, and this is the Turkish version; it is the audit booklet of ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents. Where? In tourist facilities. The standards for inspections to be carried out in facilities where British tourists will be brought are here. There are 49 pages regarding fire. What is at the end? There is a schedule for weekly, monthly, and seasonal inspections.”