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Operating licenses for 16 of the 20 hotels at Uludag, one of Türkiye's premier ski destinations, have been revoked by Osmangazi Municipality, while the Tourism Ministry has canceled their tourism operation certificates.
The South Marmara Association of Tourist Hotels and Operators (GUMTOB) warned that most hotels in the region may be unable to accept guests during the new season due to these developments.
The heightened scrutiny follows two deadly hotel fires at Turkish ski resorts this year. On Jan. 21, 78 people, including 36 children, perished in a fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Center. In March, three people lost their lives in a blaze at Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag.
In response, the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department conducted inspections at Uludag's accommodation facilities, which collectively include 20 hotels with 8,500 beds and seven public guesthouses.
Inspectors identified numerous deficiencies in fire safety measures and emergency preparedness, issuing notices requiring remediation within a specified period.
Hotel owners who failed to address these issues within the deadline saw their operating licenses revoked by Osmangazi District Municipality and their tourism operation certificates canceled by the ministry.
The affected hotel owners have since filed appeals with the Regional Court of Justice seeking injunctions against these decisions.
GUMTOB officials expressed "great disappointment" over the revocations affecting 16 branded hotels in Uludag.
They explained that implementing the new regulations in an area dominated by older buildings would essentially require completely renovating the facilities "as if newly constructed."
"It doesn't seem easy for hotels to rectify all deficiencies before the new season," GUMTOB representatives stated, highlighting the risk that most Uludag hotels may be unable to welcome guests during the upcoming ski season.
Uludag hosted 793,026 visitors arriving by road and cable car during the previous ski season between Dec. 15, 2024, and February 28, 2025. During the same period, 161,610 vehicles passed through national parks' toll booths.
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