Filenews 23 August 2024
The Council of Ministers decided on Friday to approve the Draft Regulations submitted by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in relation to "Rural Hotels".
The newly coined term "Rural Hotels" was introduced with the passing of an amending law by Parliament last March.
As stated in an announcement by the Deputy Ministry, the law achieves the development of a new policy for hotels that operate or are expected to operate within the core of the Community of mountainous and/or disadvantaged areas or in other appropriate locations, within the development limits of these areas.
The draft regulations provide for relaxations such as the right to deviate 20% in the minimum area of the reception area (including the living room) from what is provided for hotels located in other areas, exemption from a relevant provision, which determines the minimum area of internal common areas and the right for single rooms to constitute up to 50% of the total rooms.
It also provides for a permissible deviation of 10% in the minimum area of rooms compared to that provided for hotels located in other areas, exemption from a relevant provision, which determines that it is mandatory, the availability of a balcony or terrace or garden room, at least in 50% of the hotel rooms and exemption from a relevant provision, which determines, that it is mandatory to have a swimming pool for hotels of the order of four (4) and five (5) stars.
In essence, the same relaxations apply as for urban hotels. As noted by the Deputy Ministry, the provisions are expected to positively affect the development of hotel businesses in these areas, while, at the same time, existing hotels are now given the opportunity to upgrade to a class/category, provided that they meet a number of other conditions.
CNA
