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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [BUSINESS]

2 clusters · 22 sources · 3 days · First seen 28 days ago · Last updated 26 days ago

Turkey lifts ban on Booking.com

Overview

In late July 2026 the Turkish government drafted a nine‑item tourism bill that would end the nine‑year prohibition on Booking.com and other foreign online travel platforms. The proposal required platforms with annual revenue over $3 billion to open a representative office in Turkey, pay a digital services tax and a 0.5 % tourism fee, obtain a renewable two‑year licence, and limit commission rates.

By early August the government announced the law, removing the requirement for a local subsidiary and signalling that the draft would pass parliament without major opposition. The measure is expected to restore full OTA services—including accommodation and package bookings—for Turkish consumers, aiming to boost the tourism sector.

If enacted, the legislation will allow Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia and similar platforms to resume domestic hotel reservations and package‑tour sales, ending the long‑standing restriction that limited Turkish users to foreign‑only listings.

Entities

Republic of Turkey · Booking.com · Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) · Turkey Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB) · Tursab

Timeline

26 days ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Turkey lifts ban on Booking.com, drafts law to restore OTA services
Turkey will pass a nine‑article law removing the local‑office requirement for online travel agencies, ending a 2017 ban on Booking.com and letting OTAs like Expedia and Airbnb resume full services to Turkish 
28 days ago

[BUSINESS] 20 sources
Booking.com poised to return to Turkey under new tourism law
Turkey's new tourism bill would require foreign platforms like Booking.com to open a local office, pay taxes and meet commission caps, potentially ending a nine‑year ban on domestic hotel reservations.

Sources

apjii.or.id · areamobile.de · bazaartimes.com · cumhuriyet.com.tr · doviz.com · dunya.com · eskisehir.net · finansgundem.com · gzt.com · haber3.com · halktv.com.tr · inversion.es · m.haberturk.com · master.com.cy · odatv.com · preferente.com · reportur.com · sabah.com.tr · sesgazetesi.com.tr · skor.sozcu.com.tr · webtekno.com · yenicaggazetesi.com.tr