Hotel classification: The certificate will be issued by the ministry until an agency is selected

2025-06-10 08:20:00, Sociale CNA

Hotel classification: The certificate will be issued by the ministry until an

The classification of accommodation structures that should have been done on time according to the legal framework for tourism adopted almost a decade ago still remains pending according to the criteria of agreement of a well-known international agency in the sector.

In a recent decision, the government decided that the certificate required for internationally branded structures with four or five stars will be issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment until an agreement is signed with a well-known agency.

The classification provides that in addition to the categorization that a structure has from hostels or dormitories, camping and so on to bed and breakfast, there should also be a classification of them that, in short, provides for a special system accompanied by distinctive signs, among which are stars.

Specifically, the decision clarifies that point 1 of Article 7/1 of the Regulation on the conditions, criteria, tariffs, deadlines and procedure for the classification of accommodation structures, attached to Decision No. 730, dated 20.10.2016, of the Council of Ministers, as amended, is amended as follows:

"1. Exceptionally, until the signing of an agreement with well-known international agencies or organizations in the field of evaluation of accommodation structures, according to the definitions made in point 1, of Article 7, of this regulation, the verification and evaluation for the classification of accommodation structures with 4 or 5 stars, which are holders of a registered and internationally recognized trademark "Brand name", is carried out by the ministry responsible for tourism, upon application of the tourist entrepreneur himself.

"After completing this process, the ministry responsible for tourism issues a 4 or 5-star classification certificate or a certificate confirming that the accommodation structure meets the general criteria to be classified as a 4 or 5-star hotel," the decision states.

This determination is related to another decision approved by the government and related to casinos. Specifically, the latter can operate if they meet certain criteria in the law on gambling, which among other things is having a certificate as a 5-star hotel.

So, in the competition to be equipped with a casino license, the entity must also present a "5-star classification certificate or a certificate from the responsible institution confirming that the accommodation structure meets the general criteria for being classified as a 5-star hotel". This will be issued by the responsible Ministry./ Monitor.al