Only 23% of Cyprus tourism properties have a full licence

Only 23% of hotels and other tourist properties in Cyprus have a full operating licence. These figures are included in the Audit Office of Cyprus report on the work of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

According to the document, 55% of accommodation establishments operate without full compliance with legal requirements, while another 22% have only a temporary operating permit.

The situation is especially difficult in the Republic of Cyprus-controlled Famagusta district, where only 24 of the 241 tourist properties are fully licensed.

The Deputy Ministry of Tourism acknowledged that the problem remains serious, but noted that a significant share of hotel and apartment owners have still not even submitted documents to obtain a licence.

The ministry reminded that the licensing issue has remained unresolved for almost 30 years. The situation worsened after large-scale hotel renovations between 2014 and 2018.

According to the ministry, by the end of 2024 the number of fully licensed properties had risen to 94, and by now their share has reached 23%. Another 22% operate under temporary licences.

The authorities clarified that, under current legislation, tourist properties may continue operating until 31 December 2026 if they have a building permit and comply with the established requirements.

Progress in registering tourist apartments and short-term rental houses is also noted separately. Since April 2023, the number of registered properties has increased from 4,765 to 8,478, which corresponds to growth of 78%. Over the past year, 88 complaints were also filed about properties operating without registration.