Turks are awaiting a proposal that will reach parliament after the Eid al-Adha holiday, which may provoke the ire of many, especially those with low incomes who travel with companies offering discounted travel packages. Turkish authorities are preparing to impose an increase in departure fees from the country. Some local media outlets have leaked reports indicating that the government is considering presenting a bill to parliament after the holiday break, which would raise the departure tax from 150 Turkish Lira (approximately 4.58 USD) to between 1500 and 1750 Lira, equivalent to about 45.82 to 53.56 USD.
"Public Protests"
In this context, Turkish economic expert Khairi Kozanoglu emphasized that "the increase in departure tax may come into effect in the upcoming weeks." He stated to "Al Arabiya.net" that "imposing such an increase while keeping the minimum wage at the same level may lead to public protests," noting that "the government may resort to adjusting salaries concurrently with increasing some taxes."
While Turkey imposes this tax on all its citizens, it exempts those who travel with foreign passports or have valid residency outside the country. A travel agency owner in Istanbul predicted that the increase in the departure tax would prevent many Turkish families, especially those with more than three members, from traveling abroad. He linked this belief to the desire of low-income families to travel with round-trip tickets not exceeding 100 USD, as is the case with some Pegasus Airlines destinations, stating that it is not logical to pay a tax that is half the price of an airline ticket.
Turkey exempts children under the age of seven from paying this tax when leaving the country, as well as those traveling from Turkey to Northern Cyprus with their national IDs. "Al Arabiya.net" learned from informed sources that opposition parties, such as the Republican People's Party, which is the main opposition party, and the Peoples' Democratic Party, which supports the Kurds, will oppose the increase in the departure tax when it is discussed in the Turkish parliament in the coming days.
It should be noted that Turkish authorities currently require the purchase of a stamp costing 150 Lira, but this fee will change after the bill is presented to parliament and voted on later, where the government holds a parliamentary majority that can easily pass it. Turkey prevents its citizens from traveling abroad if they do not pay the departure tax at airports and land and sea borders.
