Romania's Tourism Ministry Revises Hotel and Accommodation Classification Rules

The Ministry of Economy, Digitisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) has updated the methodological norms governing the issuance of classification certificates for tourist accommodation and food‑service establishments, and has simplified licensing and patent procedures.

New criteria for hotels include integrated risk‑management systems, environmental performance, smart‑building management, coach parking, electric‑vehicle charging stations, access to a Blue Flag beach and the presence of a treatment base. Guesthouses and agrotourist units newly seeking 4‑ or 5‑star classification must now provide air‑conditioning in all accommodation spaces, a requirement that previously applied only to coastal and Delta Danube locations.

The rules also introduce extra points for local gastronomy, craft‑workshop activities and the promotion of regional traditions, establish the first classification standards for “tourist resorts” (minimum 10,000 m² of combined facilities), create a 4‑star category for bungalows, and set standards for atypical lodging such as traditional houses, caravans or barrel‑type units. Operators may deliver tourist information digitally via QR codes or mobile apps.

Accessibility measures now obligate new hotels and motels to provide rooms adapted for people with disabilities and require new food‑service venues to ensure access for persons with reduced mobility. Administratively, operators no longer need to submit a certificate from the National Trade Registry; MEDAT staff will verify CAEN codes directly through the ONRC platform. Documentation deadlines have been cut from six to three months, while the period for correcting minor deficiencies on site has been extended from seven to fifteen working days. Additional obligations apply when classification certificates or tourism licences are withdrawn.