A new legislative proposal aimed at establishing a ‘countryside hotel’ category was tabled in the House Commerce Committee.
This initiative is expected to pave the way for the government to adopt tailored policies for promoting tourism in the countryside, distinct from those applied to urban and coastal areas.
The draft law, tabled by DISY MPs Kyriacos Hadjigiannis and Nikos Sykas, seeks to amend existing legislation governing hotel and tourist accommodations.
By introducing the term ‘countryside hotel,’ the lawmakers aim to provide a clear framework for the development and operation of hotels in rural settings.
Kyriacos Hadjigiannis, one of the bill’s proponents, emphasised the importance of this new category in fostering targeted tourism strategies.
“The categorisation of mountain resorts means that we can implement a differentiated policy for this category of hotels,” he remarked, underscoring the distinct needs and potential of rural hospitality ventures compared to their urban and seaside counterparts.
Hadjigiannis further highlighted the progress made in defining what constitutes a “countryside hotel,” stating, “We have arrived at a final definition for the category. Thus, we create the possibility for the state to apply a separate policy for mountain resorts.”
Currently, there are between 18 and 20 hotels and tourist accommodations operating in mountain regions.
The proposal has reportedly received support from various stakeholders, including the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.
In his concluding remarks, Hadjigiannis expressed optimism about the bill’s potential to diversify and enrich the tourism sector. “With today’s bill, we are creating that tool, that possibility for the executive power to implement different support policies for each category,” he stated.
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