ATSO President Bahar requests extension for Simple Accommodation Certificate

ATSO President Ali Bahar requested additional time from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for small family-run businesses operating in tourism to obtain ‘Simple Accommodation Tourism Certificate’. Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO) President of the Board of Directors Ali Bahar drew attention to the problems faced by small family businesses after the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Investment and Enterprises General Directorate announced that 2426 facilities nationwide did not receive a simple accommodation certificate. Following the request from travel agencies not to work with these facilities, which have received business opening permits from municipalities before 28.07.2021 and are operating as accommodation facilities, to apply to the ministry and obtain the Simple Accommodation Tourism Operation Certificate, President Bahar stated, ‘Hotels that have been operating with business opening and operation permits obtained from the municipality, mainly referred to as hotels with municipal certificates and mostly consisting of small family businesses, are experiencing major issues. Although the businesses listed as pensions, guesthouses, or hotels in municipal business opening permits have been able to provide accommodation services so far, a regulation has been introduced by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism aiming to bring all accommodation facilities under its own registration and management.’
‘Regulation closed security and tax gap’ President Bahar emphasized that the work carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism focused on security and tax records, ‘Registering guests staying in a commercial enterprise for security purposes and registering small structures providing accommodation services for tax purposes. Regardless of any criteria, if these small businesses apply to the ministry, a ‘Simple Accommodation Tourism Operation Certificate’ is issued, and all buildings operating as accommodation facilities in this way are registered. With this regulation, both a security and a tax gap have been closed. It is undoubtedly accurate to evaluate and manage the sector in its entirety,’ he said.
‘Announcements did not reach the relevant parties’ President Ali Bahar stated that they observed that the subject of Simple Accommodation Tourism Certificate applications did not reach the relevant parties, ‘The practice, which was announced using various communication channels, did not reach the relevant parties, and unfortunately, the necessary time to obtain the certificate was missed. The permits of small hotels characterized as family businesses are currently being canceled by municipalities, and since they do not have the Ministry of Culture and Tourism certificate, they are facing the risk of closing their businesses,’ he said. Ali Bahar expressed their hope that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will make the necessary regulations and support small family businesses on this important issue.
‘Opportunity should be provided for application’ President Bahar emphasized that establishments that stand out with their architecture and unique business styles contribute to accommodation and guest diversity, ‘With all these features, they contribute to the country’s tourism and thus its economy. For the continuity of the diversity in accommodation facilities that we need from the smallest to the largest units, we see it beneficial for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to provide an additional extension uniformly to all businesses that previously held hotel or guesthouse permits issued by municipalities to apply for the Simple Accommodation Tourism Operation Certificate, both for our economy and for the diversity of our tourism. Small family businesses are the richness of our tourism. It should not be forgotten that the issue is the source of livelihood for many families running small hotel businesses.’