Investigation on Dorak Turizm ve Gayrimenkul Yatırımları Holding A.Ş. and other undertakings providing balloon rides to tourists in the Cappadocia Region Concluded

Summary

On 25th March 2021, the Competition Board conducted an investigation to determine whether Dorak Turizm ve Gayrimenkul Yatu00c4u00b1ru00c4u00b1mlaru00c4u00b1 Holding A.u00c5u017e. and other undertakings operating in the provision of balloon rides in the Cappadocia region violated the Turkish Act no 4054 by excluding competing undertakings from the market.

The investigation focused on allegations that the undertakings participated in price fixing and market allocation, both before and after the establishment of the joint reservation and sales platform CO DMC. The Competition Board found that the undertakings, including Dorak Holding and 21 others, had indeed engaged in these practices, leading to the exclusion of competing undertakings from the market for hot air balloon flight services.

As a result, the Competition Board imposed administrative fines on the undertakings that violated Article 4 of the Act no 4054. Furthermore, the Board ordered that the lease agreements between the undertakings allowing the functioning of the joint reservation and sales platform should be immediately terminated, and the platform should cease its operations.

The investigation and subsequent decision by the Competition Board aimed to promote fair competition in the hot air balloon flight services market in the Cappadocia region, and to ensure that all undertakings have equal opportunities to participate in the market and compete on a level playing field.