Will Booking reopen in Türkiye? 9-year access barrier is on the agenda of the Parliament

The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) will discuss the bill regulating the activities of foreign digital accommodation platforms in Türkiye in the new week. The proposal, which concerns international accommodation platforms, especially Booking, has brought to the agenda again the question of whether the access barrier that has been going on for 9 years will be lifted.

The Foreign Digital Accommodation Platforms Law Proposal, which will be discussed at the General Assembly, envisages new obligations and control mechanisms for foreign companies to operate in Türkiye.

WILL BOOKING BE OPERATED AGAIN IN Türkiye?

According to the proposal, foreign digital accommodation platforms such as Booking will need to obtain a permit from the relevant ministry in order to operate in Türkiye.

The enactment of the regulation will create a new legal framework for foreign platforms that meet the necessary conditions to operate in Türkiye. However, the removal of the current access ban on Booking will depend on the relevant legal and administrative processes as well as the entry into force of the law.

5 MILLION TL WILL BE PAID FOR THE PERMIT CERTIFICATE

In the bill proposal, the fee for the permit to be obtained from foreign digital accommodation platforms was determined as 5 million TL.

This amount will be increased every year by the revaluation rate for the previous year. Permits will be valid for 2 years and cannot be transferred to another company.

Turkish law will be applied in disputes that may arise from the activities of the platforms within the scope of the permit. Turkish courts will have jurisdiction in these disputes.

TOURISM SHARE OBLIGATION FOR FOREIGN PLATFORMS

According to the regulation, foreign digital accommodation platforms will pay a tourism share of 7.5 per ten thousand to the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency.

In calculating the tourism share, the base of the digital service tax will be taken as basis.

ACCESS BLOCKED TO PLATFORMS WITHOUT PERMISSION

The proposal also includes sanctions against platforms operating in Türkiye without a permit.

Accordingly, a decision will be made to block access to foreign digital accommodation platforms that are found to be operating without a permit, whose permit has been canceled or whose validity period has expired.

In addition, an administrative fine of 500 thousand TL will be imposed on companies that do not comply with the obligation to use the hardware, programs and software determined by the ministry and keep them in working order.

It will be clear whether the proposal, which closely concerns the future of the activities of Booking and similar platforms in Türkiye, will become law after the discussions in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.