ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE NEW TICKETING APPLICATION FOR TRAVEL AGENCIES AT THE BASILICA CISTERN
Dear Members,
With the letter sent to our Union by 1048 Vakıf Enerji A.Ş.;
It has been announced that the Museum Business Partner (Agency) Portal, developed within the Museum Management System, will be put into use to conduct ticketing operations for travel agencies at the Basilica Cistern more quickly, securely, and traceably.
With the new application, the group ticket purchase and payment processes that our travel agencies previously conducted by coming to the ticket office of the Basilica Cistern will be moved to the digital platform.
Travel agencies registered with TÜRSAB and approved through the Museum Business Partner Portal will be able to load balance into their accounts via the portal, create digital entry codes for the number of visitors, and track the usage status of the created codes online.
Transition Schedule
· October 5, 2026: The Museum Business Partner Portal will be opened for use by travel agencies. Travel agencies are expected to complete their system registrations within 7 days. During this process, ticket purchase transactions for agencies over the counter will continue for 7 days.
· October 12, 2026: All new ticket purchases for travel agencies will only be conducted through the Museum Business Partner Portal. From this date onward, group ticket sales on behalf of agencies will not be conducted at the box office.
· October 18, 2026, end of the day: This will be the last date for travel agencies to enter the Basilica Cistern with tickets previously purchased at the ticket office.
Usage of Existing Tickets and Balance Transfer
Tickets purchased by travel agencies from the Basilica Cistern box office can be used until the end of the day on October 18, 2026.
Refunds will not be made in cash or to a bank account for tickets not used by this date; the cost of tickets meeting the necessary conditions can be transferred to the agency's Museum Business Partner Portal balance.
In order to transfer the balance;
· The ticket being invoiced in the name of the relevant travel agency's commercial title and tax number,
· The ticket not having been scanned and used at the entrance before,
· Having an approved portal account on behalf of the Travel Agency,
· For tickets that are not used by the end of October 18, 2026, the balance loading process must be completed by the end of November 18, 2026.
Other Application Principles
· The application of the free entry right, which travel agency owners or responsible managers have under the current visitor rules, will continue provided they present a valid TÜRSAB identification card. This right cannot be used on behalf of the agency's customers or tour groups.
· At group entrances, each visitor's QR code will be scanned individually.
· Only licensed and badge-holding tourist guides will be able to provide guiding services within the Basilica Cistern. In guided group visits with more than 8 people, the use of a headphone narration system will be mandatory.
· The internet address, user manual, application method, and technical support contact information for the Museum Business Partner Portal will be announced on the official website and ticket offices of the Basilica Cistern on October 5, 2026.
· It is strongly recommended that travel agencies complete their corporate applications before the transition date in order to ensure uninterrupted operations starting from October 12, 2026.
Portal and User Guide
Museum Business Partner Portal: https://yerebatan.b2b.muze.gov.tr
User Documentation: https://docs.b2b.muze.gov.tr/
Detailed documents and user guides regarding the usage principles of the portal can be accessed from the addresses above.
We kindly request that you carry out your information and transactions related to the new application in accordance with the specified dates.
We respectfully submit this information for your consideration.
Association of Turkish Travel Agencies
TÜRSAB
Annex - 1: Official Letter Sent to Our Union by 1048 Vakıf Enerji
Annex - 2: Museum Business Partner (Agency) Portal Usage Principles and Promotional Presentation