New rules for Booking, Expedia and Airbnb

The new regulation regarding the activities of foreign digital accommodation platforms in Turkey is on the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

According to the proposal, platforms such as Booking, Expedia and Airbnb will need to obtain a two-year permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in order to operate in Turkey. The permit fee will be 5 million lira and this amount will be increased every year at the rate of revaluation.

Platforms will also be required to have a representative in Turkey, be a digital service tax payer, have no tax debt and pay a tourism share.

17 PERCENT LIMIT FOR COMMISSION

There will also be an upper limit on the commissions that platforms will receive for accommodation sales from within the country. The commission cannot exceed 17 percent of the service fee, excluding taxes.

Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan said that the activities of foreign platforms will be subject to supervision with the regulation.

Alpaslan stated that the fields of activity and responsibilities of international platforms providing services to consumers in Turkey will be determined, and the sanctions to be applied in case of non-compliance with the rules will also be regulated.

REPRESENTATIVE OBLIGATION IN Türkiye

Alpaslan stated that it will be mandatory for the platforms to have an officially reachable representative in Turkey, and that consumers' legal proceedings will be carried out within the framework of Turkish law.

According to the proposal, Turkish law will be applied and Turkish courts will be competent in disputes arising from the activities of the platforms.

Alpaslan stated that the regulation aims to protect consumer rights, protect registered tourism businesses and prevent unfair competition in the sector.

WHAT SERVICES CAN THEY OFFER?

Platforms will only be able to directly mediate the sale of accommodation facilities with tourism certificates, residences with rental permits for tourism purposes, and flight tickets.

Other services specific to travel agencies will need to be offered through authorized travel agencies, and car rental services will need to be offered through authorized businesses in Turkey.

The proposal also foresees administrative fines and access blocking sanctions for platforms that do not comply with their obligations.

If the regulation becomes law, it is planned to enter into force on January 1, 2027, and foreign platforms currently operating in Turkey will apply for a permit within three months.