The main question is about the construction season in Marmaris this winter and early spring. Is the construction season about meeting deadlines? Or is it about ensuring safety? In the fast paced world of tourism and construction meeting deadlines is an obvious priority. Marmaris allows construction from the end of October until May. This period has always seen construction, demolition and renovation projects around Marmaris. This time it is mainly about the fire safety management and procedures in hotels in Marmaris and all around Turkey.
It may look like it all began with the devastating hotel fire last winter on the 21st January 2025 during the midterm break in Bolu Kartalkaya, one of the ski & mountain resorts in Turkey. However, the fire safety improvement, implementation and planning in Turkey has begun long before that date, in fact in 2019. The government and officials have increased the fire safety requirements in tourism industry, but allowed more time to implement and finance the necessary investments in all hotels in Turkey. However, after the 21st of January 2025 the clock began ticking and the pressure is mounting.
What’s Going on?
In Muğla, within the scope of safe and sustainable tourism efforts, ‘4,014 hotels and facilities were inspected last year, and the operations of 363 facilities found to have deficiencies were suspended and closed.’
When the pressure mounts some hotel owners and managements might resort to cutting corners, which can significantly compromise safety. We all know that safety should never be neglected for speed. With that in sight the deadlines continued to be extended throughout the 2025, and the most recent deadline set is the 31st of May 2026. According to the tourism portals and news the hotel owners and management request another extension up to April 2027.
It is unlikely that a thorough risk assessment was conducted and this puts most projects at more risk than before they began. Potential hazards, problems and risks have not been understood nor reduced. As the projects progress the local hotels will adapt to the changes in the work environment.
Sadly not everyone understands the current project timelines and safety protocols. Not every hotel or apartment has the financial power to hire a team of experts who will complete the task. But everyone feels pressured to meet deadlines.
Hotels face heavy consequences from fire safety non-compliance and include hotel closure, cancellation of the Hotel License and imprisonment. Beyond criminal penalties, civil liability for guest injuries or deaths can result in huge compensation claims.
Did a hotel collapse in Marmaris?
In the midst of preparing to publish this article we have learned about a collapse of a local hotel ‘Begonvile’ on January 14th 2026. A 5-story apart-hotel in Muğla, currently undergoing renovation, collapsed unexpectedly. The incident occurred around 13:30 in Armutalan area of Marmaris.
Emergency teams, including fire, police, security, AFAD, and municipal police, were promptly dispatched to the scene. Fortunately, it was reported that no one was inside the hotel at the time of the collapse.
As a precautionary measure, another apart-hotel situated behind the collapsed structure was evacuated. An investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the collapse, which remains unknown at this time.
We hope the locals can keep their business, staff, and guests safe.
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Official Sources:
Muğla’da 363 Turistik Tesis Uygun Olmayan Koşullar Nedeniyle Kapatıldı
Marmaris’te Otel Çöktü, Olası Facia Kıl Payı Atlatıldı
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