Turkey to Introduce Accommodation Tax for Tourists Starting January 1

Turkey will implement a mandatory accommodation tax for tourists starting January 1, 2023. This has been reported by MIR24, citing Turkish media. According to the Turkish Tourism Union, the tax will amount to 2 percent and will be levied on all types of lodging services, including hotels, resorts, guesthouses, and other accommodations.

The specifics of how the tax will be paid and collected have not yet been clarified. It is anticipated that for tourists traveling on package tours, the tax will be included in the tour price. It is noteworthy that Turkey had planned to introduce an accommodation tax for tourists as early as 2019, but the decision was postponed for several reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. This year, Turkey's tourism sector has shown the best recovery indicators in the Mediterranean region.