Consultation on Policy: The Statutory Regulation of Tourist Accommodation

Overview

Under The Tourism (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, all overnight visitor/tourist accommodation, offered by way of trade or business, in Northern Ireland is subject to regular inspection and compulsory certification within a statutory category of tourist accommodation in order to legally operate. Certification is administered by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (trading as Tourism NI).

The current eight statutory categories of tourist accommodation which all accommodation establishments are classified into are Hotels, Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfast Establishments, Self-Catering Establishments, Hostels, Bunk House, Campus Accommodation and Guest Accommodation.

Each statutory category has individually specified criteria denoting the minimum level, quality and provision of standards, cleanliness, maintenance, safety, essential facilities and comfort etc. that an establishment must provide/achieve in order to be awarded a certificate by Tourism NI and operate. These statutory criteria are set out in regulations.

The last review of these regulatory arrangements took place in 2011. Since then, there has been significant changes in market trends regarding the types of visitor/tourist accommodation being provided by industry, as well as a change to the minimum standards and offerings visitors expect.

It is therefore essential that the statutory regulatory arrangements be updated and modernised to address the current and future needs of the tourism industry, as well as its domestic and international customers.

The Department for the Economy (DfE), in consultation with Tourism NI, has therefore undertaken a review of these regulations and has launched this public consultation to seek and obtain views on proposals to update, modernise and strengthen these regulatory arrangements concerning the minimum quality standards and statutory requirements of Northern Ireland’s visitor/tourist accommodation sector.

Why your views matter

This public consultation represents a valuable opportunity for stakeholders, including industry groups, accommodation operators and the general public, to help shape and give their views on these proposed amendments to ensure they:

• are robust and efficient enough to ensure minimum quality accommodation offerings across Northern Ireland which meet and surpass the expectations of modern-day visitors/tourists;
• promote regulatory clarity and flexibility to facilitate innovation; and
• better reflect contemporary tourism trends, visitor/tourist expectations and industry innovations/standards.

In addition to seeking comments on the proposed changes, the Department and Tourism NI also welcomes respondents providing additional suggestions for amending or adding to the minimum quality standards criteria for consideration

This consultation will remain open for 12 weeks, closing at 5pm on Tuesday 6 January 2026.  If you have any concerns or questions about this consultation, or how to respond, please contact us by emailing tourismlegislationconsultation@economy-ni.gov.uk.