Izmir Metropolitan Municipality took an important step to maximize the safety of tourism businesses operating in the city against disasters and to create effective emergency action plans. In line with this goal, a comprehensive information meeting on “Disaster Safety in Tourism Businesses” was organized in cooperation with Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO).
Safe Tourism Emphasis with Metropolitan Municipality and İZTO Cooperation
Continuing its efforts to ensure disaster safety and be prepared for possible emergencies, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality attaches great importance to inspection and training activities, especially for tourism businesses in the city. Acting with this awareness, the Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department and Disaster Affairs Department joined forces with the important representative of the sector, Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO), and brought to life the information meeting titled “Disaster Safety in Tourism Businesses”. The program, which was held in the Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) Assembly Meeting Hall, attracted great interest from Izmir Metropolitan Municipality officials and leading representatives of the tourism sector.
Emphasis on Long-Term Cooperation from İZTO
The opening speech of the program was made by Oğuz Özkardeş, a member of the Board of Directors of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce, who drew attention to the vital importance of the subject of disaster safety and the value of this informative meeting. Özkardeş said, “İzmir is an extremely important touristic city. This work is a long-term study. We have started these meetings. Let's also get support from the necessary administrative places. Let's do things that will be an example for Türkiye and positively affect the future, not to save the day,” and emphasized the necessity of carrying out permanent and exemplary studies on disaster safety.
Call from the Metropolitan Municipality to Build a Safe Future
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Council Tourism and Fair Commission President Seyhan Müşerref Kuralı expressed his pleasure in coming together with tourism businesses, one of the most dynamic sectors of the city, on vital issues such as fire and other disaster safety in his speech. Reminding that there are approximately 2 thousand accommodation facilities in İzmir, Kuralı stated that the recent heartbreaking hotel fire in Bolu Kartalkaya broke everyone's heart. He stated that after this tragic incident, they meticulously questioned the precautions that should be taken to prevent a similar situation from happening in the city and reviewed the current inspections in their evaluation with all relevant units of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Kuralı thanked İzmir Chamber of Commerce for this important cooperation and said, “Because such cooperation is the strongest step in creating a city resilient to disasters. This meeting is not only a sharing of technical knowledge, but also an indicator of the determination of the tourism sector and public institutions to work hand in hand to build a safe future. Safe facilities are not only businesses, but also the guarantee of life safety, labor and the reputation of our city.”
Disaster Prevention and Security Information from Experts
In the information section of the meeting, detailed presentations were made by Mehmet Ekim, Inspection Manager of the Inspection and Prevention Branch Directorate of the Fire Department, and Özgür Adal Kervankıran, Fire Department Education Branch Directorate Fire Training Manager. In the presentations, comprehensive information was shared about current regulations that tourism establishments must meticulously comply with in order to protect themselves from potential disasters and obtain a Fire Department Compliance Report. In addition, valuable information was provided to the participants by experts on the stages of the fire department compliance report processes, basic and advanced security measures that must be taken to protect buildings from fire, and the importance of emergency training and how it should be implemented. The meeting ended with answers to questions from sector representatives and an exchange of views. It is expected that this information meeting will make significant contributions to the tourism establishments in Izmir in increasing disaster awareness and providing safer services.
