Filenews 15 October 2024
The obligations arising from the current legislation for the registration of accommodation available for short-term rentals through electronic platforms, such as the well-known Airbnb, were reminded yesterday by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.
Specifically, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, for the information of all interested parties, announced yesterday that, according to the "Regulation of the Establishment and Operation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation Law", the entrepreneur / manager of each self-catering accommodation may advertise and/or rent the self-catering accommodation, provided that it is registered in the Register of Self-Catering Accommodation and has received a registration license and registration number from the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, which should be indicated in the advertisement and/or promotion of the accommodation, as well as in all relevant transactions.
The registration of self-catering accommodation in the register of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the announcement continues, is carried out through the corporate website of the Deputy Ministry at the electronic address (www.gov.cy/tourism) where interested parties have the opportunity to register their accommodation and obtain the registration permit. With the same announcement, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism records the penalties that may result from non-compliance with the legislation.
According to the provisions of the law, anyone who maintains or operates self-catering accommodation without a registration permit, or whose registration permit has been revoked, is guilty of an offence and, in case of conviction, is liable to imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year or a fine not exceeding five thousand euros (€5,000) or to both of these penalties. If the violation continues after his conviction, he is guilty of a further offence and is subject to a further fine not exceeding two hundred euros (€200) for each day of continuation of the violation.
As "F" recently wrote, the number of accommodations registered in the relevant register of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism rose to 7,800 in mid-September, from 7,312 in July this year. However, according to estimates by hotel industry officials, the accommodation advertised on various online platforms amounts to about 15,000.
