Shocking ban for shopkeepers in Istanbul: Those who do this will be forced to close

The Istanbul Governor's Office has put new measures into effect to prevent "touting," a behavior frequently subject to complaints, especially in areas with high tourist density. The Governor's Office has clarified the rules to ensure that citizens and tourists are not disturbed.

MANDATORY SECURITY CAMERAS FOR BUSINESSES

According to the new regulation, all businesses operating in tourist areas are now required to have security cameras that can view the exterior and record both audio and video. This will ensure that the conduct of both businesses and inspection teams is recorded.

50-CENTIMETER LIMIT FOR EMPLOYEES

Within the framework of the rules set by the Governor's Office, business owners and employees may only invite customers by saying "welcome" without stepping more than 50 centimeters from the front of the business. Penalties will be imposed on those who exceed this limit and engage in behavior that disturbs customers.

STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

The full statement from the Governor's Office regarding the matter is as follows:

"Our province hosts millions of domestic and foreign tourists every year with its historical and cultural values. It is important for public order and our city's image that tourists spend their time in our province in peace and safety. However, behaviors exhibited by some businesses, also known as 'touting' (directing customers against their will, disturbing them, or subjecting them to commercial pressure), both negatively affect our city's tourism image and damage the general reputation of shopkeepers, while threatening the safety and peace of tourists."

Furthermore, within the framework of the principle of honesty in commercial activities, it is required to avoid customer solicitation methods that involve persistence, loud noise, or physical contact that obstructs the free passage of pedestrians in front of workplaces or disturbs tourists and our citizens.

Article 37 of the Misdemeanors Law No. 5326: "(1) A person who disturbs others to sell goods or services shall be punished with an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Liras. (2) Law enforcement or municipal police officers are authorized to impose administrative fines for this misdemeanor."

Article 38 of the aforementioned Law: "(1) A person who occupies squares, avenues, streets, or sidewalks where pedestrians pass, or offers goods for sale there without the explicit written permission of the competent authorities, shall be fined fifty Turkish Liras by municipal police officers."

Paragraph (f) of Article 8 of the Law on Police Duties and Powers No. 2559: "Those who organize daily tours with any kind of seaworthy vessel or sell any kind of goods and services, and who use methods that disturb the environment or the customer while announcing their activities or accepting customers, shall be temporarily banned from operating for a period not exceeding thirty days by the highest local civil authority."  In accordance with these provisions, administrative sanctions may be applied to prevent the aforementioned acts.

However, various complaints have reached our Governor's Office regarding criminal proceedings applied by police units to some businesses operating in tourist areas on the grounds of touting. In this context, in order to prevent unfair complaints, ensure that businesses can operate in a more peaceful and secure environment, conduct inspections transparently, and establish an environment of trust between shopkeepers and citizens:

1.  Ensuring that all businesses operating in tourist areas are equipped with cameras capable of audio and video recording, positioned to view the exterior,

2.  Ensuring principled cooperation among our shopkeepers in accordance with professional ethical standards and informing the relevant chambers of tradesmen and professional organizations about this Circular,

3.  Municipalities and police units must resolutely continue regular inspections within their areas of responsibility to prevent the aforementioned actions that disrupt public order and violate commercial ethics,

4.  Ensuring the use of body cameras and drones during inspections conducted by our police units,

5.  Business owners or their employees must not engage in any action other than inviting customers by saying "welcome" without stepping more than 50 cm beyond the front of the workplace,

6.  Offering refreshments or promoting products outside the boundaries of the business, engaging in physical contact, blocking paths, or any other such behavior is prohibited; furthermore, even within the business premises, loud, persistent, or intrusive speech will strictly not be permitted by the relevant inspection units

and must be prevented,

7.  The penalties for suspension of operations to be imposed on businesses must be increased incrementally (3 days for the first violation, 5 days for the second, and 10 days for the third).

I kindly request that the matters outlined in the articles above be meticulously monitored by our District Governors and all relevant ranking officials, and that no disruptions be allowed in their implementation.