Filenews 23 February 2026
The government is making progress on the long-standing issue of hotel licensing, but the numbers are still puzzling. According to what the Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis said in Parliament, today only 45% of hotel units have an operating license, compared to 5%-6% in 2023. The improvement is indisputable, but the main problem remains, the majority of units continue to operate outside the normal framework.
Even more worrying is the fact that over 50% of hotels have not even applied for a licence. Some bet on a new grace period, others avoid opening files with urban planning or other irregularities.
The referral of the amending law highlighted the institutional limits of "easy solutions". And yet, the crucial question remains unanswered, if a serious incident occurs in an unlicensed hotel, who will take responsibility
