New Regulations for Simple Accommodation Facilities

I. Introduction

The Regulation Amending the Regulation on the Certification of Simple Accommodation Facilities and Beach Businesses, published in the Official Gazette dated 26 August 2026, and numbered 33352 (“Amendment Regulation”), makes significant changes to the Regulation on the Certification of Simple Accommodation Facilities and Beach Businesses, dated 25 September 2021 (“Regulation”). The Amendment Regulation contains important provisions directly affecting 600 facilities in Bodrum and 2,103 facilities throughout Muğla. Although these facilities are referred to in practice as hotels, motels, guesthouses, apart-hotels, boutique hotels, and similar types, the determining factor for the application of the Regulation is not the commercial name of the facility, but whether or not it operates under a Simple Accommodation Tourism Business Certificate ("Certificate") issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism ("Ministry"). In this respect, considering the intensity of tourism activity and the number of facilities holding the Certificate, the Amendment Regulation has the potential to have far-reaching legal and operational consequences for Bodrum.

The Amendment Regulation introduces significant amendments to the Regulation and, through the newly added Article 8/A, sets out in detail the minimum requirements applicable to simple accommodation facilities (“Facilities”).

II. Legal Nature of the Certificate

The Certificate is a special type of document issued under Provisional Article 11 of the Tourism Promotion Law No. 2634 ("Law"). This article aims to include establishments that, as of 28 July 2021, held a business opening and operating licence and were conducting accommodation activities, but do not possess a tourism business certificate from the Ministry, into the Ministry's certification system by submitting an application within the period stipulated in the Law.

Therefore, the Certificate is not a general type of document that can be preferred for new accommodation facilities to be established. The application period stipulated in Provisional Article 11 has expired.

Therefore, the Amendment Regulation primarily applies to facilities that already hold the Certificate.

III. New Minimum Requirements for Simple Accommodation Facilities

According to Article 8/A added to the Regulation, the minimum requirements for the Facilities have been determined in detail. Except for the section "D. Cleaning, Maintenance and Pest Control" below, the provisions will enter into force on 1 November 2026.

A. Reception

Facilities with a capacity of 25 rooms or more are now required to have a reception desk at their entrance.

B. Preservation of Food and Beverages

If food and beverages are served at the facility, the materials used must be stored at the appropriate temperature to prevent spoilage during storage and serving.

C. First Aid

In addition to having sufficient first aid supplies at the facility, Facilities are also required to employ personnel holding a first aid certificate.

Therefore, simply having a first aid kit or medicine cabinet will not be sufficient under the Regulation.

D. Cleaning, Maintenance and Pest Control

The Facilities must be regularly cleaned and maintained, and pest control measures must be carried out on a regular basis. This provision, unlike other minimum requirement provisions, entered into force on 26 August 2026, the date of publication of the Amendment Regulation.

IV. New Provisions Regarding Swimming Pools

Facilities with swimming pools must ensure that the pool floor and walls are covered with suitable and high-quality materials; that there is an overflow gutter or a similar system serving the same function around it; and that filtration and disinfection systems are in place to ensure the continuous filtration and disinfection of the pool water.

In addition, it is mandatory to have non-slip flooring around the pool and sunbathing areas, safety steps in the pool, and depth measurements indicated at each level where the depth changes.

A. Children's Pool

Facilities with swimming pools must have a separate children's pool with a maximum depth of 50 centimetres.

However, accommodation facilities that, as part of their marketing and operational policy, only accept guests aged 12 and over and inform their guests of this in advance, will not be required to have a children's pool.

For this exception to apply, the policy of accepting guests aged 12 and over must not be merely a formal announcement, but must also be consistent with the establishment's actual operating policy.

If the facility subsequently decides to admit guests under the age of 12, a children’s pool compliant with the Regulation must be provided before the revised admission policy is implemented.

B. Certified Lifeguard

Facilities with swimming pools are required to have at least two certified lifeguards.

The Regulation does not deem two lifeguards sufficient in every case; rather, it requires a sufficient number of certified lifeguards having regard to the number and size of the pools.

Therefore, the minimum number of certified lifeguards is two, and more may be needed depending on the physical characteristics of the facility.

C. Pool Usage Rules, Showers and Changing Rooms

Facilities must have signs displaying pool usage rules in Turkish and at least two foreign languages.

In addition, changing rooms and showers for pool users are mandatory.

V. Recreational Water Areas

Special regulations have also been established for facilities featuring recreational water activities such as slides, waterfalls, wave pools, and similar features used for purposes other than swimming.

These areas must have personnel responsible for maintaining order and security while they are operational; the surrounding area must have non-slip flooring; a system must be in place to ensure continuous water purification; and the rules of use must be announced in Turkish and at least two foreign languages.

VI. Minimum Requirements for Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Each room must include a standard bed, one pillow and pillowcase per person, hand and bath towels, sheets, a duvet or comforter suitable for the climate, a bedside table or similar arrangement, general lighting, natural ventilation, electrical outlets, a waste bin, a wardrobe or similar arrangement, and curtains or a similar system.

If a room door is not equipped with an electronic lock, an additional locking system must be installed.

Bathrooms must have a threshold or similar arrangement to prevent water from spreading outside the bathroom, as well as a shower enclosure or shower curtain, appropriate sanitary ware, fixtures, taps, shower fittings, a mirror, a waste bin and soap.

VII. Restriction on the Transfer of the Certificate

One of the most notable provisions of the Amendment Regulation in terms of its legal consequences is the limitation imposed on the transfer of the Certificate.

Pursuant to paragraph 8 added to Article 7 of the Regulation, the Certificate cannot be transferred except in cases of testamentary disposition or inheritance. This provision entered into force on 26 August 2026, the date of publication of the Amendment Regulation.

VIII. Sanctions for Violating the Transfer Ban

The Regulation explicitly stipulates that if it is determined that the Certificate has been transferred in a prohibited manner, Article 34(1)(e) of the Law shall be applied. This provision provides for the cancellation of the Certificate if the conditions are met.

IX. Changes in the Inspection Regime

With the amendment to Article 10 of the Regulation, it has been explicitly stipulated that beach businesses and simple accommodation facilities are required to meet the qualifications specified in the Regulation.

The same article was also amended regarding inspection authority, and Ministry inspectors were added to the list of officials who will conduct inspections of the Facilities.

This provision also came into effect on 26 August 2026.

X. Evaluation of Facilities in Bodrum

According to the list published by the Muğla Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, 600 Facilities in Bodrum hold the Certificate.

Compliance with the minimum requirements set out in Article 8/A may require additional time and expenditure depending on the existing physical and operational conditions of Facilities. Therefore, it is important that the necessary compliance work be started promptly and completed within the applicable deadlines.

M. Mertcem Özırmak

Attorney-at-Law

Bibliography

• Republic of Turkey Presidency Official Gazette, “Regulation Amending the Regulation on the Certification of Simple Accommodation Facilities and Beach Businesses”, Official Gazette No. 33352, dated 26 August 2026.

  
  

• Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Inspection Board Presidency, “Regulation on the Certification of Simple Accommodation Facilities and Beach Businesses”, Official Gazette dated 25 September 2021, No. 31609.

  
  

• Turkish Presidency Legislation Information System, “Law No. 2634 on the Promotion of Tourism”, Official Gazette No. 17635 dated 16 March 1982.

  
  

• Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Inspection Board Presidency, “Regulation on the Qualities of Tourism Facilities”, Official Gazette dated 1 June 2019, No. 30791.

  
  

• Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Investments and Operations, “Simple Accommodation Tourism Business Certificate”, Accessed 26 August 2026. https://yigm.ktb.gov.tr/TR-456750/basit-konaklama-turizm-isletmesi-belgesi.html .

  
  

• Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Muğla Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, “Establishments with Simple Accommodation Tourism Business Certificates”, Accessed 26 August 2026.

  https://mugla.ktb.gov.tr/Eklenti/139524,belgelendirmeliste--basit-konaklama-04112025xlsx.xlsx?0 .