AK Partİ has submitted a bill to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) regulating the activities of foreign digital accommodation platforms such as Booking and Airbnb in Türkiye. If passed into law, the bill would require these platforms to obtain an operating license and appoint a local representative in Türkiye, while capping the commission they can charge on accommodation sales at 17 percent. The regulation could also pave the way for Booking, which has been blocked in Türkiye for roughly nine years, to resume operations should it meet certain conditions.
Under the bill, foreign digital accommodation platforms such as Booking and Airbnb would be required to obtain an operating license from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Platforms already operating in Türkiye would be given three months to apply for a license after the law takes effect. Platforms would also be required to appoint a local representative in Türkiye.
The license fee has been set at 5 million lira, an amount that would be adjusted annually in line with the revaluation rate. The license, valid for two years, could not be transferred to another person or entity.
Licensed platforms would be permitted to carry out online sales and marketing for accommodation businesses certified by the Ministry as well as residences with tourism rental permits. Platforms would also be allowed to sell airline tickets.
The bill also sets a cap on the commissions platforms can earn from accommodation sales. Under the proposal, the total amount charged as commission, service fee, or under any other name could not exceed 17 percent of the sale price, calculated on the sale price excluding VAT.
Foreign platforms would additionally be required to pay a tourism levy of 0.075 percent (7.5 in ten thousand) to Türkiye’s Tourism Promotion and Development Agency for activities carried out under their operating license.
The new regulation would also increase platforms’ responsibilities regarding listing security. Platforms would be obligated to verify the certification numbers issued by the Ministry for accommodation facilities and tourism rental residences listed on their systems, and to publish these numbers in the listings.
For disputes arising from activities covered under the regulation, Turkish law would apply and Turkish courts would have jurisdiction.
For the bill to become law, it must first be approved by TBMM committees and subsequently by the General Assembly.
