The Legislative Yuan today passed a bill extending the deadline for certain accommodations to apply for hotel registration, including national hero houses, teachers’ hostels and China Youth Corps (CYC) activity centers.
A 2015 amendment to the Act for the Development of Tourism (發展觀光條例) required these accommodations to apply for hotel registration within 10 years to continue operating.
These accommodations, which target specific demographics and operate as hotels without being managed under related regulations, are widely considered as unfair by the hotel industry.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Another amendment proposed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Hsueh-sheng (陳雪生) and others was passed by the legislature today, extending the deadline by an additional five years.
The original deadline of Jan. 21 has been extended to Jan. 21, 2030, allowing the facilities to continue operating as hostels.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators criticized the bill, accusing the KMT of granting special privileges to these groups.
KMT legislators cited the contributions these facilities made during the COVID-19 pandemic for epidemic prevention and disaster relief.
The five-year extension is a way to reward their contributions and give them ample time to apply for hotel registration, KMT legislators said.
The KMT is “committed to protecting grassroots rights, pursuing a reasonable system and benefiting the people,” KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) said.
Many accommodations have been unable to complete their registration within 10 years, reflecting inadequate policies in the original amendment, Lin said.
If the deadline is not extended, the livelihood of their employees would be significantly impacted, Lin added.
Rather than criticizing the bill, the DPP should focus on developing and expanding tourism, KMT Legislator Yu Hao (游顥) said.
The CYC and other entities should work hard within the next five years to apply for registration, diversifying accommodation options in Taiwan, Yu said.
The bill could help revive Hualien County’s tourism industry, which took a hit following the earthquake on April 3 last year, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Lin Yi-chun (林憶君) said.
DPP Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸) accused opposition parties of forcing through an irresponsible bill that would be detrimental to current policies and the nation’s future.
Even with five more years, CYC activity centers would still be unable to pass fire safety, building management and health inspections due to zoning restrictions and other regulations, Hsu said.
The amendment also raises penalties for those who operate hotels, travel agencies or tourism recreational businesses without the proper licenses or registration.
Violators would face fines between NT$100,000 and NT$2 million (US$3,055 and US$61,180) and be ordered to cease operations.
The amendment further stipulates that hotels, travel agencies and tourism recreational businesses that fail to pass inspection by the competent authority would be ordered to make improvements within a given time frame.
If they fail to do so, they would be fined between NT$30,000 and NT$300,000.
Additional reporting by CNA
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