Gelisim News

Accommodation tax will have a positive effect on tourism!

Accommodation tax will now be implemented in Turkey after countries such as Italy, Japan, Croatia, Belgium, France, Portugal. The tax system will come into effect as of January 2023 and will cover guests staying in facilities and places such as hotels, motels, holiday villages and pensions. Asst. Prof. Dr. Dilbar Guliyeva evaluated the effects of accommodation tax on winter tourism.

“WINTER TOURISM EXPECTATIONS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH!”

The reservation density has started in Turkey's favorite ski resorts for winter tourism. In evaluating reservations activity in the past days, Turkish Travel Agencies Association President Firuz Baglikaya stated that Turkey's winter tourism will be at least as active as summer this season. Asst. Prof. Dr. Dilbar Guliyeva from Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences Department of Tourism Guidance:

“A new era will begin as of January 1, 2023. As of the beginning of the year, 2% accommodation tax will be collected from accommodation businesses such as hotels, motels, holiday villages, thermal facilities, hostels, apart hotels tents, tent cars, caravans, bungalows. Moreover, movements for winter tourism began. Winter tourism expectations are quite high this year. Reservations and occupancy rates are already quite good at the ski resorts. Hence, the accommodation tax will have a positive effect on tourism.”

 WHAT WILL THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS BE?

With the removal of the pandemic restrictions completely, the postponed holiday demands began to manifest itself in winter tourism in Turkey. Endeavors continue in Erzurum Palandöken and Bursa Uludag, which are holiday destinations especially frequented by Russian and European tourists.
Accommodation tax will directly contribute to the development of tourism in touristic destinations where municipalities are active, such as promotion, image, research and development, environmental regulations, technological services, infrastructure and superstructure works. Guliyeva also indicated the accommodation tax can contribute to the following issues;

       1. Planning and implementation of the required size and functionality of the areas such as getting off, getting on, waiting and parking, which are necessary for facilitating access to the facilities by road or lifts,
       2.  By examining the distances between the accommodation facilities and the ski slope, alternative applications are made to reach the facilities directly from the slopes,
      3.  Planning the arrangement of ski tracks, taking into account international standards,
      4.  Organizing and promoting national and international competitions.