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Parliament Prepares Vote on Revised Operating Hours for Recreational Venues Amid Industry Divide

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 13, 2025

The final draft for the legislation governing recreational centers now rests with Parliament. Lawmakers are set to present the proposal for approval at an extraordinary session. Despite a two‐week consultation period granted by the Parliamentary Commerce Committee to the government and affected agencies, the discussions have so far failed to yield a unified stance.

Proposed Regulatory Changes

The reintroduced bill, which is once again slated for debate before the Commerce Committee, outlines specific operating hours for various categories of establishments. Among the key provisions are:

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Restaurants, Taverns, Pizzerias, Cafes, and Snack Bars: Permitted to operate daily from 6:00 a.m. until 1:30 a.m.
Pubs and Bars: Authorized to operate from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 a.m.
Indoor Banquet Halls and Reception Venues: Allowed to function every day from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. the next day.
Outdoor Reception Areas: Authorized operating hours from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 a.m.
Nightclubs: Indoor venues can function daily from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., while outdoor venues must close by 1:30 a.m.
Discos and Cabarets: Permitted to operate from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day.

Industry Reactions and Concerns

Preliminary submissions to Parliament reveal significant industry dissent. The Pan-Cypriot Association of Recreation Center Owners (ΠΑΣΙΚΑ) rejects the differentiation in operating hours, especially the inclusion of banquet halls under extended operational status. They warn that the bill could trigger cascading effects by reducing revenues for taverns, restaurants, bars, and breweries, thereby jeopardizing small businesses and endangering local employment.

Similarly, the Paphos Recreation Center Owners Association (ΣΙΚΑΠ) has voiced its opposition. According to the group, the proposed legislation favors a narrow segment of large enterprises while threatening the survival of hundreds of neighborhood venues, particularly in non-touristic locales and areas with traditionally modest business scales. The association is urging lawmakers to consider amendments that reduce both the extended hours and associated penalties, calling for a limitation of powers granted to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the exclusion of less frequented regions.

Divergent Views Within the Sector

In contrast, the Ammochostos Recreation Center Owners Association (ΣΙΚΑΑ) supports the general direction of the bill, even as it calls for further revisions. The association distances itself from what it describes as sweeping and alarmist criticism. According to ΣΙΚΑΑ, many industry representatives see the bill’s core provisions as beneficial for modernizing and streamlining sector operations, while still acknowledging that certain details, such as the designated operating hours for dining venues, warrant further refinement.

Closing Remarks

During previous debates, the General Director of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Kostas Konstantinou, indicated that all avenues for consultation have been exhausted, noting that discussions on the draft have persisted since 2018. With mounting pressure from industry stakeholders, members of the Commerce Committee have already signaled that the forthcoming debate may be held in a closed session, underscoring the high stakes inherent in these proposed changes.

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EU Investigates Booking.com Over Fake Listings And Advertising Transparency

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 21, 2026

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into whether Booking.com complied with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on fraudulent property listings, phishing scams and the transparency of paid search results.

Regulators will assess whether the platform adequately identified and mitigated consumer risks, including financial losses caused by fake accommodation offers and deceptive messages.

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Fake Listings And Consumer Protection

As part of the investigation, the Commission will examine whether Booking.com took sufficient steps to address listings for non-existent properties, impersonation fraud and accommodation offers that may not meet applicable requirements. It will also assess the platform’s safeguards for removing fraudulent or non-compliant listings.

Phishing Risks And Guest Data

Another area of scrutiny concerns the risks associated with sharing reservation and guest data with accommodation providers, as well as the design of Booking.com’s messaging tools.

Weak safeguards could allow scammers to exploit these channels to obtain personal information or trick customers into making fraudulent payments.

Paid Search Results Under Scrutiny

A further focus is whether Booking.com clearly identifies paid-for search results. Accommodation providers can pay higher commissions to improve their rankings, but EU rules require users to recognise advertisements and understand who paid for them, why they are being shown and how advertising preferences can be adjusted.

Potential DSA Violations

If confirmed, the suspected failures could breach Articles 34 and 35 of the DSA, which require very large online platforms to assess and mitigate systemic risks. The investigation may also concern Article 26(1), which sets out transparency requirements for online advertising.

According to the Commission, the investigation will be treated as a priority. Possible next steps include requests for further information, interviews and inspections. The Commission may also impose interim measures, issue a non-compliance decision or accept commitments from Booking.com.

Opening proceedings does not prejudge the outcome. However, during the investigation, the Commission will directly supervise the suspected advertising-transparency issue under Article 26(1), rather than leaving it to national authorities.

Wider Implications For Online Marketplaces

The investigation follows the Commission’s review of Booking.com’s risk assessment and transparency reports, alongside its responses to formal information requests issued on September 23, 2025, and May 26, 2026. The Commission is working with the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets, the country’s Digital Services Coordinator.

Booking.com was designated a Very Large Online Platform under EU law on April 25, 2023. The case will test whether the company’s safeguards for consumer protection, security and advertising transparency meet the requirements imposed on major online platforms.