a 14-day unconditional “Right of Withdrawal” (Cayma Hakkı) for online purchases to combat impulsive buying, my analysis of the legislation reveals a balanced legislative approach specifically tailored for the hospitality industry. Because hotel rooms, flight seats, and tour capacities are highly perishable inventory—meaning an unsold room tonight cannot be sold tomorrow— granting an absolute, last-minute withdrawal right would bankrupt the tourism sector. Therefore, the TKHK deliberately exempts contracts concerning accommodation, car rental, and passenger transport for specific dates from the unconditional right of withdrawal, unless the commercial provider explicitly offers a refundable cancellation policy.27 This sophisticated legislative balance reflects the modern Turkish consumer law philosophy: it protects the vulnerable tourist from deceptive practices and defective experiences, yet pragmatically protects the macroeconomic survival of the tourism industry against the volatility of arbitrary consumer cancellations. 4.3.4. Travel Agencies and the Association of Travel Agencies Law No. 1618 The structural organization and commercial licensing of tourism intermediaries in Türkiye are anchored by the Travel Agencies and the Association of Travel Agencies Law No. 1618. This statute establishes a strict public law framework that mandates a corporate guild structure, requiring any commercial enterprise engaging in travel arrangements, tour organization, or reservation intermediation to obtain an official operation certificate from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and maintain mandatory membership in the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB). By prohibiting unauthorized tourism activities, the law establishes an administrative monopoly designed to filter market participants and guarantee institutional accountability. Furthermore, Article 19 of this statute strictly penalizes misleading or deceptive advertisements by travel agencies, reinforcing the constitutional protection of consumers by forcing providers to submit promotional materials to administrative scrutiny, thereby aligning professional market conduct with the objective honesty requirements of the Turkish Code of Obligations (TBK). 27 Tuğçem Seçer, “Otel Sözleşmelerinde Rezervasyonun Yapılması, İptali ve Neticeleri”, Başkent Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 5/2 (2019): 291 13 TRAVEL AND TOURISM LAW IN TÜRKIYE
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