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The operating license of The Green Park Kartepe Resort Hotel in Türkiye’s Kartepe ski resort has been revoked after repeated inspections found that required safety deficiencies were not corrected within the legal timeframe.
Kartepe Municipality announced that the hotel’s business opening and operating license was cancelled following inspections by relevant public authorities. Officials said the hotel failed to address violations identified during earlier checks, despite written warnings and deadlines issued under existing regulations.
In a written statement, the municipality said inspections carried out at the facility operated by Kartepe Turizm A.S. found multiple noncompliant issues.
“All legal warnings were issued and time was granted within the framework of the law. Despite this, the obligations were not fulfilled, and the hotel’s operating license was revoked,” the statement said.
The decision comes amid tighter inspections of ski resorts and hotels across Türkiye following the deadly hotel fire at Kartalkaya in Bolu last year, which killed 78 people, including dozens of children.
After that disaster, municipalities and provincial authorities began reviewing fire and disaster preparedness standards at tourism facilities, particularly in winter destinations.
The Kartepe hotel was among the facilities inspected during this broader review and authorities found serious shortcomings related to fire and emergency safety measures.
Local officials said the hotel was temporarily closed to guests during the inspection process and customer admissions were halted while renovation work was promised. However, subsequent checks showed that the required improvements had not been completed.
Municipal inspection reports cited several critical safety and regulatory problems. These included deficiencies directly linked to fire protection and emergency response systems, as well as construction issues that violated zoning rules.
Key findings reported by inspectors included:
Officials said these issues posed a serious safety risk for guests and staff, particularly given the hotel’s location in a high-traffic winter tourism area.
Municipal authorities said the hotel will not be allowed to resume operations unless it meets all legal and technical requirements. This would involve installing full fire safety systems, including fire escapes, emergency exits, sprinkler and ventilation systems, and securing all necessary approvals from fire authorities.
In addition, any unlicensed structures would need to be brought into compliance with zoning and construction regulations, including obtaining permits from the General Directorate of Forestry where required.
The municipality said compliance would be verified through new inspections and that reopening would only be considered after all deficiencies are fully resolved.
The closure reflects wider concerns over inspection and enforcement practices in Türkiye’s tourism sector.
Following the Kartalkaya fire, courts handed down heavy sentences to hotel owners, managers, and public officials, marking one of the strongest legal responses to a mass casualty disaster in the country’s history.
That case also intensified public pressure on local administrations to enforce safety standards more strictly and prevent facilities with unresolved violations from operating.
Kartepe is one of the main winter tourism destinations near Istanbul, attracting thousands of visitors each season. Local authorities said inspections across the district’s accommodation facilities will continue as part of ongoing efforts to improve safety and regulatory compliance.
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