Bill Under Debate to Govern Foreign Online Travel Agency Market Entry in Türkiye

A bill is currently before the Public Works, Zoning, Transport and Tourism Committee that outlines rules for foreign booking platforms in Türkiye. The proposal would allow booking.com to resume domestic hotel reservations in the country, provided it obtains a permit from the Culture and Tourism Ministry and appoints a representative in Türkiye. Under the bill, fees and commissions would be capped at 17 percent of the sale price, excluding value-added tax. The legislation would also permit platforms to sell flight tickets directly, and combined sales of transport and accommodation would not be classified as package tours.

The proposed rules address the operational limitations that led to booking.com ceasing domestic hotel reservations in Türkiye following a 2017 court ruling initiated by the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies. If passed, the bill would introduce foreign competition into the domestic tourism market, though concerns remain about the potential for foreign platforms to gain excessive market power.