Booking.com Set to Resume Domestic Hotel Bookings in Turkey After Nine Years

Booking.com could soon resume offering domestic hotel reservations in Turkey for the first time in nearly nine years, following a proposed legal amendment expected to be submitted to the Turkish Parliament.

According to local reports, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has prepared a new tourism bill that would allow the global accommodation platform to operate in compliance with Turkish regulations. The draft legislation, consisting of nine articles, is expected to be presented to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in the coming days.

If approved, the change would mark the end of a long-standing restriction that has prevented users in Turkey from booking hotels within the country through Booking.com.

What Will Change for Travelers?

If the proposed law becomes official, people in Turkey will once again be able to use Booking.com to make reservations at hotels and other accommodation across the country.

At present, users accessing Booking.com from Turkey can only make reservations for accommodation outside Turkey. Domestic hotel bookings have remained unavailable since the restrictions were introduced.

The return of domestic bookings would provide travelers with another major option when planning holidays, business trips and weekend getaways across Turkey.

Why Was Booking.com Restricted?

Booking.com stopped offering domestic hotel reservations in Turkey after a court decision nearly nine years ago.

The restriction followed complaints from Turkish travel agencies, which argued that the platform created unfair competition. Authorities also stated that Booking.com had not fulfilled certain legal obligations required to operate within Turkey’s tourism sector.

Although international hotel bookings remained available, domestic accommodation listings were removed for users accessing the platform from within Turkey.

A New Chapter for Turkey’s Online Tourism Market

The proposed legislation aims to reshape competition in Turkey’s rapidly growing digital tourism market while creating a legal framework that allows Booking.com to operate in accordance with Turkish regulations.

Officials hope the new rules will encourage fair competition between international booking platforms and local travel businesses while expanding booking options for consumers.

If Parliament approves the bill, Booking.com will once again become a significant player in Turkey’s domestic accommodation market, offering travelers a familiar platform for booking hotels throughout the country.

What It Means for Visitors

For both residents and international travelers planning trips within Turkey, the return of Booking.com could make finding and comparing accommodation much easier.

With one of the world’s most recognized hotel booking platforms potentially returning to the domestic market, travelers may soon enjoy greater choice, increased convenience and a wider range of accommodation options across Turkey. (source: turizmguncel.com)