Before the start of the summer holidays, the Commerce Committee expects to vote on the proposal for a law to regulate the establishment and operation of hostels (hostels). The proposal was submitted by MPs Kyriakos Hatzigiannis and Chrisis Pantelidis, in consultation with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, in order to fill the legislative gap concerning this type of accommodation. At the same time, the debate on the bill on glamping, which is being promoted for adoption by the plenary session of the Parliament, was completed.
During the debate on the two issues concerning the tourism product of Cyprus, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Savvas Perdios, attended the session, who congratulated the members of the Parliament for their vigilance in order to promote the proposal for a law on guesthouses.
In his remarks after the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Tourism said that the preparation for the proposed law began 3-4 months ago and congratulated all parties, who, he said, worked very quickly in this direction so that the proposal is ready for submission before the Parliament.
"This is a new market for Cyprus," Perdios said, stressing that "we need to see where the youth around the world are moving to, who are looking for accommodation in hostels." He said that many searches on the internet for Cyprus are for city breaks and this will also contribute to the traffic that hostels will have.
He added that the law will also promote the upgrading of hostels and this is important for the image of Cyprus and explained that, with its enactment, hostels will be able to receive permits, therefore the owners will also benefit from grant or incentive schemes of the Ministry of Tourism. "The aim is not just to legislate, however, for owners to get licences, but to have a framework with specific tiers and for each operator to have an incentive to upgrade," the Deputy Minister said.
Perdios also referred to the glamping bill, following the conclusion of the article-by-article debate in committee. "I believe that we are in the final stage for approval of the bill, which also follows the new trends and is a product that we will introduce, on the initiative of the Deputy Ministry, and it concerns both the youth and people who want to enjoy a high quality holiday in nature," he said, noting that the aim is to have this issue finished before the House closes for the holidays.
Asked about this, Perdios said that "there are several quality initiatives on the part of private individuals, which give us the impetus to proceed with certifications and legislation on these issues" and referred specifically to the case of theme parks, for which there was no uniform certification framework on the part of the state. "We have now put out a certification mark for theme parks," he said.
During the debate in the Committee, the representative of the Hostels Owners Association welcomed the tabling of the proposed law, saying that through it, the minimum operating standards would be ensured and the tourist image of Cyprus would be enriched. He pointed out, however, that it should be ensured through this law that the owners of such accommodation can continue to offer low-cost accommodation after the institutionalisation of the operation.
The Chairman of the Committee, DISY MP and one of the rapporteurs of the proposed law, Kyriakos Hatzigiannis, speaking about its content, called it an innovation of the Commerce Committee and thanked DIKO MP Chryssi Pantelidis and the Deputy Minister of Tourism for his contribution. He said that in 15 days the article debate on the proposal will begin and the legislative gap will soon be filled.
He also announced that the debate on the Glamping bill has been completed so that it will be taken to the plenary session of the Parliament. "It is an innovative service, which is part of the broader tourism strategy that our country needs," he said, adding that "with these two pieces of legislation, we are taking steps forward to have an integrated tourism service, which is not limited to specific areas, but distributed throughout Cyprus' tourism product."
In statements after the meeting, DIKO MP and one of the proposers of the bill, Chrysis Pantelides, said that the proposal aims to fill the legislative gap concerning the guesthouse sector, which, he said, already contributes to the enrichment of Cyprus' tourism. He explained that hostels attract a very different audience of tourists, mainly young people, who choose to travel the world with a suitcase on their shoulder and thus add to the tourism income of the countries they visit.
Pantelides said that if the law is passed, it will ensure "conditions for the development of a healthy competitive and quality environment in tourism". He explained that the proposal provides for the creation of a register for the registration of guesthouses, which will meet specific standards for the services they provide, as well as for safety and health issues of their visitors.
Answering questions from journalists, Mr. Pantelides said that there were about 25 hostels in Cyprus before the pandemic, which are now around 20. He stressed that the operation of the hostels is not competitive with other accommodation, as they are for so-called backpackers, who choose cheap air tickets and use public transport. He welcomed the support of the University of Cyprus and private universities for the initiative, since the hostels also serve Erasmus students.
In response to the question whether the proposal can be passed by July, Mr. Pantelidis said that this discussion started in February, with an ex-officio issue before the Committee and distance was covered since then, a comparative study was made by the Parliament on what is in force in other countries, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism had a constructive attitude from the beginning and the Owners' Association also wants such a regulation. "That is why we are at a very advanced stage and I believe that the target set by the chairman of the committee for a vote before the summer holidays is achievable," he said.
In a statement after the meeting, EPP MP Elias Mirianthous welcomed the conclusion of the debate on the Glamping bill for luxury campsites, saying that "with the regulation and regulations as they have been considered, and taking into account that the proposals of the Commerce Committee have been introduced in the bill, this will give a boost to this tourism product and to the creation of campsites, both luxury and other classes, which will primarily enhance the mountainous, rural and remote areas of Cyprus". He concluded by expressing the belief that this product will also contribute to the promotion of Cyprus as an attractive tourist destination.
Source: CNA
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