As it is known, the Regulation on the Certification of Simple Accommodation Facilities and Beach Businesses was published in the Official Gazette dated 25.9.2021 and numbered 31609 and entered into force. In this context, the Ministry issued a Simple Accommodation Tourism Management Certificate to the enterprises with local administration certificates dated before 28.07.2021 within 1 year, effective from 25.09.2021. After this period, accommodation facilities that obtained workplace opening and operation licenses from Municipalities and Special Administrations were obliged to apply to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism via e-Government within 1 year from the date of obtaining the license and obtain a Tourism Management Certificate.
The Law on Tourism Incentives was amended by the Law No. 7464 dated 25/10/2023 on the Leasing of Houses for Tourism Purposes and Amendments to Certain Laws published in the Official Gazette dated 02/11/2023 and numbered 32357.

With the amendment made, it has been made obligatory for accommodation establishments that have been issued a license to open and operate a workplace before the effective date of the provisional Article 19 added to the Law No. 2634 and do not have a tourism management certificate, but the one-year period for obtaining a tourism management certificate has not yet expired as of the date of the license, to apply to the Ministry within three months as of the effective date of this article and to obtain a tourism management certificate within six months.

In addition, in order for the competent authority to re-issue a business license to the establishments whose business license was revoked by the competent authority within the scope of the amended seventh paragraph of Article 5 of the Law No. 2634, a letter of approval from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism stating that the facility meets the conditions for obtaining a certificate must be obtained and submitted to the competent authority. Accommodation establishments whose tourism business license has been revoked by the Ministry are obliged to obtain a new tourism business license within six months from the date of notification of the revocation decision.

Matters needing attention!!!

  • It is necessary to apply for this document within 6 months from the date of the Business License issued by the local administration. For example, let our license date be 01.05.2025. This accommodation facility can apply for a Tourism Management Certificate on 01.11.2025, the last day of the 6-month period. However, if the application process is negative, the facility will not have the chance to make a new application since the 6-month period has expired and the existing license will be canceled. For this reason, it is important to apply as soon as possible after the license date if the facility meets the Ministry's criteria.
  • If the facilities fail to obtain a Tourism Management Certificate within the specified time period, the Ministry will send a letter to the local authorities requesting the revocation of their existing licenses. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism must send a letter of approval to the municipalities in order to reissue the licenses revoked by the Ministry. This letter of approval is given if the facility meets the Ministry's criteria as a result of the on-site inspection of the facility by the Ministry inspectors. Afterwards, the license procedures are restarted at the local authorities and the facility goes through the building inspection, fire brigade (in case the duration of the fire brigade compliance report exceeds 1 year) and license inspection processes again.
  • Travel agencies must upload the Tourism Management Certificate or Simple Accommodation Certificate to the system of the relevant agencies in order to be able to sell on their websites. In case of a new license, in order to open sales channels, an application must be made for the Tourism Management Certificate and the temporary document number issued for the application must be forwarded to the agencies. However, if the application is incorrect or rejected, the agencies close the sales channels again.
  • After the application process is accepted, the facility is included in the audit program. Facilities that have deficiencies in the first audit have 2nd audit rights. However, facilities that fail to meet the Ministry's criteria in 2 audits cannot request a re-audit within 6 months. Within 6 months, since the legal period will expire, the license of the facility will be canceled and a letter of opinion will be requested from the Ministry for re-license application.
  • It is important to get support from professionals in this process in order to minimize all financial (inability to accept customers as a result of the sealing of the hotel, fees for the new license to be issued after the license cancellation, closure of sales channels, etc.) and moral (loss of time, stress, etc.) losses.

As Globalis, we are at your side with our consultant staff who are experienced in their field and have knowledge of legislation!

Below is a brief description of the types of Tourism Management Certificate facilities. You can contact us for detailed information.