Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides has referred back to parliament a law allowing hotels and tourist accommodation to operate for up to five years under a special permit, citing violations of separation of powers, legality and equality. He asked the House of Representatives to reconsider the 2026 amendment law.
Law referred for reconsideration
According to Stockwatch, citing a letter dated February 9, the president requested reconsideration of the Regulation of the Establishment and Operation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (Amendment) Law of 2026.
The law was approved on January 22 with 25 votes in favour and 15 abstentions, following a proposal by Disy MP Kyriacos Hadjiyiannis.
Scope of the referral
The president said the referral does not concern a simple extension of deadlines but the creation of a new operating regime based on a “special licence”.
The amendment was intended to address long-standing licensing delays by allowing establishments unable to obtain full permits to continue operating while securing required certificates. It provides a one-year extension of the licensing deadline to November 30, 2026, and allows operation for three years with a possible two-year renewal.
Concerns over equality and legality
According to the president, the framework creates unequal treatment between businesses that already comply with existing legislation and those that do not, saying it “violates article 28 of the Constitution, which prohibits unequal treatment between equal and similar cases”.
He also raised legality concerns, saying the arrangement tolerates continued non-compliance with planning and licensing requirements and introduces exceptions to urban planning rules.
Two-tier regime and application requirements
The president said the law creates a two-tier regime, as some establishments could operate without safety and health certificates that licensed operators must already hold.
He also said the obligation imposed on the Deputy Ministry of Tourism to accept incomplete applications and assist in their completion conflicts with the principle that legislation must set clear obligations.
What steps should be taken to address hotel licensing delays while maintaining equal treatment under the law?
