Tourism Law in Europe

4 authorisation of operating of a tourism business was replaced by the Special Operating License that currently only applies to tourist accommodation. The Special Operating License is replaced by an attestation of the existence of the legal conditions for the operation of other tourism businesses, in order to improve and simplify startup procedures of tourism enterprises. According to Law 4276/2014, article 1, para. 2, “tourist accommodation” is any touristic business that receives tourists and provides them with accommodation and other incidental to accommodation services, such as catering, entertainment, recreation or sport. The tourist accommodation is divided into three categories: a) main type of hotel accommodation (principal accommodation); b) secondary type of hotel accommodation (secondary accommodation or non-main type); and c) hotel accommodations within traditional buildings. 4. Types of Accommodation The main type of accommodation is divided into five distinctive categories: 1) Hotels; 2) Organised Camping Sites (campsites); 3) Youth hostels; 4) Tourism accommodation complexes; and 5) Condo hotels. The secondary type of accommodation is divided into three categories: 1) Self-catering Tourist Accommodation - furnished mansions (villas); 2) Self-catering Tourist Accommodation - furnished residences; and 3) Furnished rooms - apartments for rent. Finally, the third type of accommodation is Hotel accommodations within traditional buildings.