New regulations for foreign online reservation platforms in Türkiye passed through committee
A bill introducing licensing for foreign digital placement platforms, requiring a representative in the country and imposing tax obligations has been adopted in the parliamentary committee in Türkiye.
The Public Works, Reconstruction, Transport and Tourism Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey has adopted a draft law on foreign digital placement platforms. The draft imposes obligations on these platforms to obtain a permit document, maintain a representative in the country, and pay taxes and a tourism share.
During the commission discussions, the position of hotel associations was divided. TÜRSAB strongly opposed the regulation, while TÜROB and TÜROFED supported it. Booking.com stated that it supports the rules, but that the scope should be defined more clearly.
In Azerbaijan as well, a large share of hotels and guesthouses receive bookings through foreign online platforms. How the representative and permit requirement will work in Turkey, and especially what operational burden it will create for small guesthouses, is a topic to be monitored in the coming months.