Cypriot hotels are actively preparing for the start of the new tourist season, which this year coincides with Orthodox and Catholic Easter.
However, the Ministry of Tourism is concerned that most hotels in Cyprus do not have licences.
Specifically, out of 741 tourist establishments, only 100 hotels have a valid licence from the Ministry of Tourism. Around 20 hotels are in the process of examining their applications or processing their paperwork. In this context, the ministry said that discussions are underway in the Cypriot parliament on the possibility of granting temporary permits to hotels that have not yet completed the licensing process.
Last week, MPs also tabled a bill in parliament that would provide for a new extension of the licensing deadline until the end of 2027, allowing hotels to continue operating in the coming season. Incidentally, it was deemed necessary to extend the transitional period until 31 December 2025 for all natural and legal persons operating hotels or tourist accommodation facilities, and until 31 December 2027 for all natural and legal persons operating hotels or tourist accommodation facilities, provided that by 31 December 2025 they submit to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism the necessary certificates and documents proving that they have taken the necessary measures to remedy all their construction defects and irregularities.
After that, the owners of such establishments will be subject to criminal prosecution, with the intention of issuing suspension orders to the hotel companies. It is expected that the final decisions on this issue will be taken in the near future in order to prevent a shortage of places for tourists and to ensure the full operation of the tourism industry.
It should be recalled that in order to obtain a licence to operate, hotels must provide a number of certificates that their facilities meet health and safety standards, including food handling, the suitability of any swimming pools they may have and lifts.
They must also have planning permission. However, hotels and other tourist facilities now have a five-year grace period to obtain licences for their operations. There has also been a simplification of procedures compared to what the CTO used to require. However, not all tourist facilities are in a hurry to obtain licences.