The debate on an amendment bill that introduces provisions for the operation of luxury camping sites, also known as "Glamping" began on Tuesday in the Parliamentary Committee on Commerce.
The bill and related regulations modernize the provisions regulating the establishment and operation of tourist accommodations that fall under the category of tourist campgrounds, which under this bill may be classified as luxury, A, B and unclassified, as the same is provided for other categories of tourist accommodations. At the same time, new provisions are introduced to regulate the development of "glamping" luxury camps, a new international trend in tourism which is rapidly developing on a global scale and is linked to the experience of luxury accommodation in the countryside.
As stated in the explanatory report, these developments are expected to contribute to the enrichment of the tourism product, to the further development of mountain and rural areas and to attract new segments of the tourism market. "The first reason we wanted to make the bill is to help mountainous areas, the countryside and small families who want to make their own business and not to cause issues in the forest," he said."
Director General of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism Theophanis Tryfonos also told the committee that the operation of these campsites do not affect the hotel industry as they are developments mainly in mountainous areas. "It comes to complement and strengthen the already existing hotel industry and certainly because of the activities, local communities are strengthened and local businesses because someone staying in the forest will surely make hiking routes," he added.
The President of PASYXE, Harris Loizidis said that within the framework of upgrading and improving our tourism product such changes are always welcome. "Offering new services to visitors is something we encourage," he said."
A representative of the Union of Communities expressed concern that the criteria were for large businesses, noting that in some small businesses or family businesses in various communities could operate in the sector.
DISY MP Onoufrios Koulla hailed the bill as an important initiative that fills gaps in the market and appeals to new people, adding that there should be safeguards against any abuse.
MP of the Citizens' Ecological Co-operation Movement Stavros Papadouris said there must be attention to the issue in order to avoid the phenomenon of recreational facilities on the Limassol seafront which had become uncontrolled.
EPP MP Elias Mirianthous also welcomed the tabling of the bill, saying that the current situation with individual campsites creates a negative impression, citing as an example the "mess" that takes place every August in the area of Polis Chrysochous.
Finally, Michalis Giakoumi of the DPA welcomed the filing of the bill and added that there must be safeguards to prevent possible abuses.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
