Will Thousands of Villas in Turkey’s Tourism Paradise Antalya Remain Empty?

As the tourism season kicks off, a villa rental crisis has emerged in popular destinations like Kaş, Kalkan, and Fethiye, where approximately 2,800 villas may remain unoccupied due to a new regulation that prevents them from being rented out.

The issue stems from the “Tourism-Oriented Housing Rental Regulation”, which came into effect last year and requires homeowners to obtain a special permit to legally rent their properties for tourism purposes. However, many villa owners in these areas have not yet received the required documentation.

In regions where villa tourism is especially dense, zoning complexities and administrative uncertainties have prevented many family-run operations from obtaining permits. Some had received temporary permits, but those expired on December 31, 2024, leaving them unable to operate this season.

The Ministry of Tourism had previously stated that it would review the regulation on-site and make necessary adjustments. However, despite high expectations, no concrete solution has been provided so far.

This situation not only affects property owners, but also dozens of related professions, including cleaning services, transport providers, travel agencies, and maintenance crews, all of whom rely heavily on the villa tourism sector.

Local business owners express serious concern over the economic and social damage this uncertainty may cause during the heart of the tourism season.