Cuenca’s Tourism Rules Are Headed to First Debate

Cuenca’s proposed tourism ordinance is ready to move into first debate in the Cantonal Council. The draft was revised after observations from the city’s legal office and changes to national regulations, according to El Mercurio.

What the draft covers

The proposal would regulate tourism activities and create or update fees connected to temporary lodging, tourist transport, and guiding. It also includes a Licencia Única de Funcionamiento, or single operating license, plus updated rates for certain activities.

The package is not limited to hotels. The reporting describes a registration mechanism for the tourism sector, a way to generate information, and tools for tourism promotion. Those elements could matter to short-term accommodation operators, guides, and businesses that serve visitors even when they do not think of themselves as part of a formal tourism industry.

The reporting also describes two legislative bodies in the broader package. One concerns rates for using thermal waters in Baños and would update an ordinance that is more than 16 years old. The other concerns tourism, where the existing framework is nearly 18 years old. The document was sent to Mayor Marisol Peñaloza for the next stage of processing.

First debate is not a final rule

The draft still depends on the Cantonal Council’s agenda. El Mercurio says the review will depend on that schedule, which means the proposal is not yet an operating rule and the new rates are not yet charges that businesses or visitors should assume are in effect.

The report points to Quito and Guayaquil as examples where overnight and temporary-accommodation fees already operate at a national scale. That comparison explains the direction of the proposal, but it does not establish the final Cuenca rate or a start date.

What this means for Cuenca expats

If you rent a property short term, guide visitors, operate tourist transport, or use services linked to Baños tourism, this is a draft worth watching. The practical questions are the final text, the rate schedule, the licensing procedure, and the date of effect.

For now, do not treat a first-debate announcement as a new bill. Keep the topic on the municipal watch list and check the council’s published agenda before changing a business process or pricing decision.

Source: El Mercurio