Thousands of tourism facilities shut down in Türkiye over non-compliance
An aerial view of beaches in the district of Fethiye in Mugla, which was ranked third among the world's best destinations for a beach holiday in October by the British newspaper The Times, in Türkiye, May 27, 2024 (AA Photo)
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Türkiye has ordered the closure of 4,380 tourism facilities over the past three years due to their failure to meet required standards. The move comes as part of a nationwide effort to enforce stricter regulations in the tourism sector.
Under amendments made to the Tourism Promotion Law in 2021 and 2023, businesses that obtain operating licenses from municipalities and provincial administrations are required to secure a tourism operation certificate within six months. Those failing to do so face revocation of their business permits within a month, effectively ceasing their operations.
Istanbul leads in closures
The highest number of closures occurred in Istanbul, where 767 facilities were shut down. Izmir followed with 515 closures, while Sakarya ranked third with 499. Other provinces with significant numbers of closures include:
- Mugla: 424
- Antalya: 386
- Aydin: 226
- Canakkale: 179
- Bursa: 149
- Balikesir: 131
- Denizli: 127
- Kocaeli: 125
- Nevsehir: 107
- Mersin: 61
- Kahramanmaras: 53
Overall, Türkiye has 25,908 registered tourism facilities. With the recent closures, nearly 16.9% of these establishments have been deemed non-compliant and forced to shut down.
Authorities pushes for full compliance
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has been rigorously monitoring tourism facilities since 2022 to ensure adherence to the updated regulations. The enforcement of closure decisions falls under the jurisdiction of municipalities and provincial administrations.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy recently emphasized the government’s firm stance on compliance, stating:
“We make the closure decisions, and municipalities implement them. In our latest meeting, I instructed governors to push municipalities to complete closure processes more swiftly. Over the past three years, we have executed a highly effective and intensive program. This is an unprecedented effort to bring all documentation and operations in order. Those who fail to comply are being shut down.”
Türkiye’s crackdown on non-compliant tourism facilities highlights the government’s commitment to maintaining high industry standards. With nearly 17% of establishments shut down, authorities continue to enforce strict regulations to uphold the country’s reputation as a leading global travel destination.
