Tourism Law

"It is easy to be good; being just is the hard part."

— Victor HUGO

Tourism Law

Tourism law governs the relations between travel agencies, accommodation businesses and travellers. We act on package tour cancellations and refunds, agency and facility licences, short-term tourist rentals of residences, and claims arising at hotels and resorts.

Tourism law sits at the intersection of several statutes and governs the relations between travel agencies, hotels and restaurants, tour operators, guides and travellers. The principal texts are the Tourism Encouragement Law No. 2634, the Travel Agencies and Association of Travel Agencies Law No. 1618 and, on the consumer side, the Consumer Protection Law No. 6502 together with the Regulation on Package Tour Contracts. Some disputes go before the consumer arbitration committee or the consumer court, while those about operating licences and administrative fines belong to the administrative courts; choosing the right forum at the outset avoids losing time.

Where We Act

Package Tour Disputes

Refunds, price reductions and damages where a tour is cancelled, postponed or performed below the standard promised in the contract. The package tour organiser is liable for performance regardless of who actually supplies the service. The traveller's right to transfer the contract before departure and to terminate free of charge in extraordinary circumstances are assessed here as well.

Accommodation and Facility Contracts

Accommodation contracts with hotels, holiday villages and boutique properties, allotment and guaranteed-room agreements, commission and current-account disputes between agencies and facilities, cancellation and no-show charges.

Travel Agency and Operating Licences

Applications for group A, B and C travel agency operating licences, trade name and branch procedures, disputes arising from TÜRSAB membership; applications for tourism investment and tourism operation certificates, and administrative appeals and annulment actions against decisions revoking them.

Short-Term Tourist Rental of Residences

Law No. 7464, in force since 2024, made residential lettings shorter than one hundred days subject to a permit. This heading covers obtaining the permit from the Ministry, preparing the unanimous decision of the condominium owners that the permit requires, challenging the administrative fines imposed for letting without a permit, and matters concerning listings on booking platforms.

Tourist Guiding

Licences, working cards and chamber procedures under the Tourist Guiding Profession Law No. 6326, and appeals against disciplinary decisions and removal from the profession.

Accidents at Tourism Facilities

Operator liability for accidents in pools, water parks, transfer vehicles or elsewhere on the premises; claims for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages and for loss of support. In files involving foreign guests, the competent court and the applicable law are assessed separately.

For Foreign Investors and Guests

Company formation, property acquisition and work permit procedures for foreign investors buying or leasing a tourism business; representation of foreign guests in disputes over tours, accommodation and healthcare services in Türkiye. These files are usually run together with immigration and real estate law.

Frequently Asked Questions

My package tour was cancelled. Can I get my money back?

Where the organiser cancels the package tour, the traveller may claim a refund of what was paid; if the cancellation does not stem from extraordinary circumstances, damages may also arise. Depending on the amount, the claim goes first to the consumer arbitration committee or to the consumer court. Keep the contract, the proof of payment and the cancellation notice.

Do I need a permit to rent my flat to tourists for short stays?

Under Law No. 7464 a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is required for residential lettings shorter than one hundred days. In buildings under condominium ownership the permit requires a decision taken unanimously by all owners. Letting without a permit exposes both the owner and the intermediary platform to administrative fines.

I was injured at a hotel or resort. Who is responsible?

The facility must keep its guests safe; where the necessary precautions are not taken around pools, slides, lifts or wet floors, the operator becomes liable. An incident report, a request for the facility's camera footage and a medical report are the most decisive evidence. Where the stay formed part of a tour, a claim may also be brought against the package tour organiser.
06 September 2026
Legal Counsel
İstanbul

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