The Cyprus Parliament has unanimously approved the 2025 Amendment to the Law on the Regulation of the Establishment and Operation of Guesthouses, extending the licensing deadline by one additional year for guesthouses that were operating before the original law came into effect. The amendment passed with 37 votes in favor.

The legislative proposal was submitted by Democratic Party MPs Panikos Leonidou and Chrysi Pantelidis.

Addressing the Plenary, MP Chrysi Pantelidis explained that the extension was deemed necessary, as the three-year transitional period granted by the original law is set to expire this August.

He emphasized that while there is notable interest from industry professionals to comply with the new legal framework, significant delays in the licensing process are mainly due to the Town Planning Department, which failed to issue the necessary circulars in time. This resulted in procedural ambiguities that have hindered proper implementation.

“Recognizing the state’s responsibility for this delay, we considered it essential to extend the deadline by one year,” said Pantelidis. He added that the aim is not to allow continuous extensions, but to support those actively working to legalize their operations.

Pantelidis also called on the executive branch to ensure that the required circulars are issued promptly and that the licensing process is expedited.

During discussion in the relevant parliamentary committee, it was noted that despite nearly three years having passed since the original law was enacted, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism has received very few license applications to date.