Parliament has partially accepted a referral by President Nikos Christodoulides of legislation regulating the establishment and operation of hotels and tourist accommodation, backing amendments proposed after legal objections were raised.
Plenary voted in favour of revised provisions to the Law on the Regulation of the Establishment and Operation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation, following reconsideration by the parliamentary Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Committee.
Thirty MPs voted in favour of the amended law, with 15 against.
Changes following presidential objections
The President had referred the legislation back to the House for reconsideration, citing concerns over potential violations of the principles of separation of powers, legality and equality.
The referral did not concern an extension to operational deadlines for hotels and tourist accommodation, but rather provisions introducing a new special operating licence.
After reviewing the President’s reasoning, the committee approved several changes.
Among the deleted provisions is a clause requiring the Deputy Ministry of Tourism to accept every application submitted — even if incomplete — and assist applicants in properly completing it.
Also removed is a requirement that, for the issuance of a special operating licence, applicants must submit a certificate confirming compliance with the terms of applicable collective labour agreements. That certificate would have been issued by the Department of Labour Relations under the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance.
Political reaction
AKEL MP Costas Costa, a member of the tourism committee, noted that the most recent deadline for accommodation providers to comply with the law had expired months ago.
He said the original legislation had aimed to give hotels and tourist establishments an opportunity to meet specific requirements, particularly in relation to fire safety, so that their applications would at least satisfy core safety standards.
Costa added that his party does not fully accept the President’s referral, signalling continuing political disagreement over the scope and intent of the amended law.
The revised legislation now returns to the statute book with the contested provisions removed, but debate over the balance between regulatory oversight and executive authority appears set to continue.