ANNOUNCEMENT ON REGIONAL REPRESENTATION BOARD ELECTIONS

 

Dear Members,

Pursuant to the provision in Article 14 of the Travel Agencies Association Regulation published in the Official Gazette dated 03.06.2018 and numbered 30440, which states that “Regional Representation Board elections shall be held in October of the year in which the Association’s Ordinary General Assembly is held,” the Regional Representation Board Elections will be held as follows: In accordance with the decision taken at the Regular Management Board Meeting of the TÜRSAB Management Board on 27.08.2025, the Regional Representation Board Elections will be held at the locations where the Regional Representation Boards are established, on the dates and times specified in the table below, with the election agenda. Suppose it is deemed necessary to hold the elections at a different address to ensure they are conducted properly. In that case, the address where the elections will be held will be announced separately.

 

 

Regional Representation Board (RRB) Elections will be conducted in accordance with the agenda items listed below. The dates of the RRB elections and the start and end times of the elections are specified above, in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 8, titled “Conducting Elections,” of the Regional Representation Board Formation and Working Principles. The location and timetable of the elections will also be announced separately in accordance with the agenda.

RRB Election Agenda

1. Opening (National Anthem, Moment of Silence)
2. Opening speeches
3. Acceptance of candidate applications
4. Candidate speeches
5. Start of voting
6. End of voting
7. Counting, announcement of election results, and closing

Candidate applications from candidates present in the hall where the election will be held must be submitted to the Committee established under Article 14 of the Travel Agencies Association Regulations until the start of the candidate speeches listed in item 4 of the election agenda. Candidate applications will close when item 4 of the agenda is reached.

Travel agency representatives who are not present at the meeting must submit their candidacy applications, which they will use in accordance with subparagraph (c) of paragraph 5 of Article 8 of the Regional Representation Board Formation and Working Principles, to the Association with their wet-signed petitions by the date of the RRB election.

In this context, we bring the following matters to the attention of our valued members.  

1. Our valued members who wish to exercise their right to vote and be elected must present documents proving their authority to represent and bind the agency, along with their identity cards (official documents such as ID card, driver's license, passport, marriage certificate, etc.), to TÜRSAB officials.
2. In the elections of the Regional Representation Board, it is possible for the representative and binding authority to vote in person, but it is not possible for persons without representative and binding authority, such as partners without representative and binding authority, persons appointed by power of attorney, or persons authorized in the decision book, to exercise their right to vote and be elected.
3. Voter lists will be published on the website before the elections for each region, containing the current registration information of the travel agency headquarters registered in that region.
4. In the event of a change of address, if the address change procedures are completed during the Regional Representation Board elections and the business certificate for the new address has not yet been issued, but the inspection has been completed and only the delivery of the certificate by the Ministry is pending, the representative and binding authority of the relevant travel agency will be able to exercise their right to vote and be elected in the elections of the Regional Representation Board to which the new address belongs. In this context, those whose files are with the Ministry will be added to the Regional Representative Council Voter List and will be able to exercise their right to vote and be elected.
5. Travel agencies whose establishment procedures have been completed but whose operating license has not yet been obtained, whose establishment inspections have been carried out, whose financial obligations to TÜRSAB have been fulfilled, and whose files are with the Ministry, will be added to the Regional Representation Board Voter List and will be able to exercise their right to vote and be elected.
6. Objections to the voter list must be made within 7 days of the announcement of the voter list. Voter Lists are finalized before the elections. No travel agency other than those whose names appear on the list prepared by the officials on election day may participate in the elections.
7. The Association staff conducts the elections based on the principle of secret ballot and open counting.
8. An example of the size and structure of the lists to be prepared by those running for election will be published in the region and announced on the Association's website before the election.
9. In regions with fewer than 200 travel agency headquarters and branches, one president, four regular members, and five alternate members are elected. In regions with more than 200 travel agency headquarters and branches, one president, six regular members, and seven alternate members are elected.
10. The election principles set out in the fifth paragraph of Article 8 of the Regional Representation Board Formation and Working Principles are as follows:

a) Participation and Right to Speak

Travel agencies have the right to attend Regional Representative Board meetings to which their headquarters address is listed on their operating documents and to speak on the matters discussed at the meeting. Representative managers of travel agency branches within the Regional Representative Board's jurisdiction also have the right to attend the meetings. However, branch managers' right to speak is exercised at the meeting chair's discretion after the travel agencies eligible to vote and be elected have spoken.

b) Right to Vote

Every travel agency has the right to vote and be a candidate in the Regional Representation Board elections to which their headquarters address is listed on their operating documents. Each travel agency has one vote. A person may attend the meeting representing more than one travel agency and cast a total of one vote for each travel agency, equal to the number of travel agencies they represent.

c) Closure of the Attendance List

Authorized representatives and binders who will attend the meeting on behalf of a travel agency listed on the Regional Representation Board Elections Voter List and exercise their right to vote and be elected must submit the following documents, issued by the Trade Registry Office, to Union officials, stating that they are authorized to represent and bind the person(s) listed on the travel agency's operating license:

i. Current and Valid Certificate of Activity

ii. Signature Circular

iii. Trade Registry Gazette

The Attendance List may be signed until the end of voting is announced. Only those whose names appear on the Attendance List are eligible to participate in the elections. Powers of attorney or consent cannot be used to participate in the elections on behalf of a travel agency.

NOTE: If the representative and binding authorities of travel agencies whose current information is included in the Association's records and the relevant Trade Registry record match the official records, presenting the original ID and a copy of the signature circular is sufficient. In cases where there is more than one authorized person to bind or a joint signature, the procedures implemented by the District Election Board in General Assemblies will be taken into account. Documents and information regarding this will be included and announced separately in the election guide.

ç) Candidacy

Any travel agency representative eligible to participate in the elections has the right to run for the presidency or a seat on the Regional Representation Board.

Candidates for the presidency or membership of the Regional Representation Board must submit a petition to the TÜRSAB officials responsible for conducting the elections, stating their candidacy, no later than the election day, when voting begins. This petition must specify the legal entity that owns the travel agency for which they are authorized to represent and bind, and whether their candidacy is for presidency, membership, or alternate membership.

Representatives of multiple travel agencies must indicate in their candidacy application to the Association officials responsible for conducting the elections which travel agency they are running for.

Those participating in the elections as a joint list may also submit a single petition outlining their candidacy.

Travel agency representatives authorized to represent and bind who cannot participate in the Regional Representative Board elections due to professional or similar excuses may be candidates. These individuals may apply for candidacy by submitting a petition, including the documents required for participation listed above. Even if they are not present, these individuals are eligible to participate in the election as candidates.

d) Voting

Voting is conducted by secret ballot. Individuals listed on the Attendance List present their identification to TÜRSAB officials and sign the attendance list after voting, certifying their vote.

Voting is conducted by placing a piece of paper with the names of the candidates specified in paragraph 2 of this article, a printed list, or ballots containing the names of the candidates, in an envelope provided by the Association personnel responsible for the election, and placing the envelope in a ballot box or box under the supervision and control of the Association personnel.

The paper, list, or ballot to be placed in the envelope must contain the names of one (1) presidential candidate, the names of the Regional Representation Board members, and the names of the alternate candidates, including the president, and the names of the travel agency they represent.

Voting ends upon completion of the announced election time or upon the determination that every travel agency representative on the Attendance List has voted.

e) Counting and Announcement of Results

Once the voting is complete, the counting process begins. The counting is conducted by Association officials. Anyone present may observe the counting.

The counting begins by comparing the number of signatures representing the voters on the Attendance List with the number of envelopes. If the number of envelopes exceeds the number of signatures, one of the envelopes is removed and destroyed without opening.

Envelopes provided by TÜRSAB officials that are not in the correct format or color, lack the TÜRSAB seal, are completely torn, or contain any markings such as signatures or writing are considered invalid.

Ballots removed from the envelopes are sorted. In the following cases, ballots removed from the envelopes are cancelled:

i. Are torn in such a way that their integrity is damaged,

ii. Ballots containing the names of more than one presidential candidate or more candidates than the number of Regional Representation Board members,

iii. Votes cast for travel agency representatives who are not candidates,

iv. Votes bearing a mark indicating the voter,

v. Votes cast for an unknown party.

However, an invalid vote for a presidential candidate or any member candidate does not invalidate the valid votes cast for other candidates in the same envelope.

The election results are recorded in a report, and a copy of the report is provided to the candidates who request it.

f) Objections

Objections regarding the election results must be submitted to the Association's Board of Directors by the evening of the third business day following the election. The right to object belongs to the candidates. Those who object must submit their objections with a petition clearly stating the objection. Objections are resolved by the Association's Board of Directors within three (3) business days.

The election results will be announced on the Association's website as the "preliminary election results" the day following the election, and as the "final election results" after the completion of the objection process. The winners will be notified in writing.

     11. According to Article 14 of the Association of Travel Agencies Regulations, "...As of the date of the election, every travel agency holding a central operating license within the Board's area of ​​activity shall be represented by its owner or a person authorized to represent and bind it by voting...", travel agency officials holding operating licenses related to a branch address do not have the right to vote or be elected in the elections.

We kindly request your participation in the Regional Representation Board meetings regarding the Election Agenda, as outlined above.

We respectfully submit this for your information.

 

Association of Turkish Travel Agencies
TÜRSAB

 

Annex - 1: Regional Representation Board Formation and Working Principles