Bill that could lift Booking's 9-year ban moves to TBMM agenda

The Grand National Assembly will address the Foreign Digital Accommodation Platforms Bill in plenary session this week. The bill redefines the legal framework for international accommodation platforms in Turkey, particularly Booking, which has been subject to an access ban for 9 years.

Under the regulation, foreign digital accommodation platforms will be required to obtain a license permit from the relevant ministry to operate in Turkey. The license permit fee is set at 5 million TL; this amount will be increased annually according to the previous year's revaluation rate. Permits will be valid for 2 years and cannot be transferred to another company.

Platforms will also pay a tourism share to the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency at a rate of 7.5 per thousand; the calculation will be based on the digital services tax base.

Access bans will be imposed on platforms found operating without a license, whose licenses have been revoked, or whose permits have expired. Companies that fail to comply with hardware and software requirements set by the ministry will face an administrative fine of 500,000 TL.

The lifting of the current access ban on Booking will depend on both the law's entry into force and the completion of all relevant legal and administrative procedures. Turkish law will apply to platform disputes in Turkey and Turkish courts will have jurisdiction.