CYPRUS: Hotels say delays in new criteria undermines recovery

Cyprus hoteliers are complaining over a long delay by the Legal Service in examining the bill on criteria for a new ranking system for hotels and tourist accommodation.

As a result, hotels are unable to obtain the necessary permits which hampers efforts to recover after the collapse of tour operator Thomas Cook.

The Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (ACTE) and the Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA) said the bill is being inexplicably delayed at legal services, where it has been since May.

According to the procedures laid down, the criteria, following the legal review, will be referred to the Cabinet for approval so that hotels can apply for their classification and authorization.

“This delay has resulted in hotels operating without the necessary permits with all the consequences that entails,” said Chrisemily Psilogeni, ACTE’s president.

“On the one hand authorities are firing at us for not having the necessary permits, on the other bills that would allow us to do so are being tangled up in legal services red tape,” she told the Financial Mirror.

This means that a number of new hotels, will not be able to be categorized and receive the corresponding permit.

Director general of the CHA, Zacharias Ioannides said the delay comes as another blow to the industry which is trying to recover from the collapse of Thomas Cook. Reportedly the demise of the tour giant, cost the island’s hoteliers tens of millions of euros in damages.

“We are currently trying to set up deals with the remaining tour operators, who are asking for us to submit our permits and ratings. A number of hotels will not be able to do so, losing out on significant income.”

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