Turkey is getting more expensive. The news that a tax will be introduced in hotels in Turkey did not please anyone and caused indignation. The Parliament adopted the law in the first reading, so there is no doubt that it will go further. What does this mean for ordinary tourists and is there really a rise in price coming?
When the law is finally approved, from April 1, 2020, all tourists will pay a tax for accommodation in the amount of 2% of the cost of living. Moreover, there will be no discounts for children and pensioners. But the tax will not apply to state guest houses. All hotels, boarding houses, guest houses, apartment and boutique hotels fall under the law. That is, staying in a hotel complex will rise in price by only 2%. But these are preliminary figures. After all, according to the adopted law, the President of Turkey has the right to reduce and increase the tax twice in any season. Therefore, the option with a floating percentage of tax should not be excluded either. Most likely in high season it can be higher.
Of course, the owners of the hotel business are not satisfied, roughly speaking, they were not given the opportunity to prepare. Since the contracting has already been approved for the next year, the owners will pay the tax out of their own pocket for the first time. Therefore, Russian experts in the field of tourism say that prices for holidays in Turkey will not increase significantly. Although Turkey is getting more expensive, but there is an opinion that if charters are allowed to fly to Egypt, then Turkish beaches will have a very strong competitor.
At the moment, it is quite difficult to say how this law will affect tourism to Turkey.
Since it has not been fully adopted, as well as many amendments. But most likely it will be approved, since the proceeds go to the state budget. In any case, the rise in price of accommodation in hotel complexes will increase by the percentage of tax taken as a result. Perhaps tourists in the new year will not feel the impact of the new bill. But 2021 may turn out to be a less attractive destination for vacationers. If you are currently booking tours and hotels for next year, keep in mind that the hotel may additionally ask you to pay the accommodation tax.
