Turkey proposes new regulations for digital accommodation platforms

A new legislative proposal submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) aims to regulate digital accommodation platforms, potentially allowing services like Booking.com to return to the Turkish market after a nine-year access ban.

Under the proposed law, international platforms such as Booking.com and Airbnb would be required to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to operate in Turkey. Existing foreign platforms would have three months to secure these permits once the law takes effect. The permit fee is set at 5 million TL, which will increase annually based on revaluation rates, and the permit will be valid for two years. Additionally, the regulation proposes a commission cap of 17% for these platforms.

Tourism stakeholders, particularly in regions like Izmir, are monitoring the development. Industry representatives suggest that the return of high-visibility international platforms could create new customer channels for small hotels and boutique businesses by facilitating easier access for foreign tourists.