Access to and operation of the hostel activity: tourist and on the camino de santiago routes

HOW DO I QUALIFY?

The requirements for tourist hostels are established according to their classification (DOC 1):

• Tourist hostels.
• Hostels on the Camino de Santiago.

All tourist hostels must comply with the common requirements for facilities, equipment, and services established in Articles 8 to 15, inclusive, of Decree 22/2018, of July 26. (DOC 2)

The requirements for facilities, equipment, and services, according to the category applied for and taking into account the type of hostel, are regulated in Decree 22/2018, of July 26:

• Tourist hostel: Articles 16 to 18. (DOC 3)
• Hostels on the Camino de Santiago: Articles 19 to 21. (DOC 4)

• Document 1: Classification and categories of hostels (60 kbytes)
• Document 2: Common requirements for hostels (47 kbytes)
• Document 3: Requirements for hostels on the Camino de Santiago (52 kbytes)
• Document 4: Requirements for tourist hostels (45 kbytes)
• Proof of identity and representation (84 kbytes)

What documents do I need?

1.- Access to and exercise of the activity: Owners of hostel-type accommodation establishments must submit the form entitled "Declaration of Responsibility for Commencement of Activity in a Hostel" before commencing operations. This form must be duly completed and addressed to the Tourism Offices of the province where the establishment is located, in the following cases:

• Commencement of activity. The box "1-I declare under my responsibility" must always be checked.
• Change of ownership.

a) Section “1-I declare under my responsibility” must be checked in the following cases:

• When the hostel establishment was registered in the Tourism Registry of Castile and León before August 28, 2018, and modifications are made to its type or category, or substantial renovation, expansion, or rehabilitation work is carried out.
• When the hostel establishment is registered in the Tourism Registry of Castile and León on or after August 28, 2018.

b) Section “2-I declare under my responsibility” must be checked when the hostel establishment was registered in the Tourism Registry of Castile and León before August 28, 2018, and does not fall under the cases in the previous section.

2.- Modification of data and cessation of activity: Owners of hostel-type accommodation establishments must submit the form entitled "Notification Regarding Modifications and Cessation of Activity," duly completed and addressed to the Tourism Offices of the province where the establishment is located, in the following cases:

• Any modification of the information included in the declaration of responsibility and in the documents provided, as well as the cessation of activity or cessation due to a change of ownership.
• When substantial modifications or renovations are carried out, or the type or category of the hostel is changed.

3.- Incorporating data or documents: Owners of accommodation establishments in the hostel modality must submit the model Incorporation of data or documents to an administrative procedure already initiated, in the case of correction of deficiencies, incorporation of new documentation to the procedure initiated, among others, duly completed and addressed to the Tourism Sections of the province where the establishment is located.

WHAT TIME DO I HAVE TO ASK?

Access to and exercise of the activity:

• It must always be submitted before the start of your business activity. (Art. 21.1 Law 14/2010, of December 9).

• In the case of a change of ownership, the new owner must submit a new declaration of responsibility within one month, always before the start of the business activity. (Art. 21.1 Law 14/2010, of December 9, and Art. 26 of Decree 22/2018, of July 26).

Notification of changes to data and cessation of activity (Art. 27 of Decree 65/2015, of 8 October):

• Any changes to the information included in the declaration of responsibility and the supporting documents, as well as the cessation of activity or cessation due to a change of ownership, must be reported within one month of their occurrence.

• Any substantial modifications or renovations that may affect the type or category of the hostel must be reported before the establishment reopens or before the new categorization or specialization is implemented.

NOTIFICATIONS:

• By Postal Mail at the address of the interested party.
• Electronic notification by appearance, by means of a notice via the e-mail address included in the application. This notice shall not have the effect of a notification until the interested party accesses the content of the notification in the NOTI notification system. 

APPLICABLE LEGISLATION:

• Law 14/2010, of 9 December, on Tourism in Castile and León. (BOCyL No. 243 of 20 December). Amendments affecting Law 14/2010, of 9 December, on Tourism in Castile and León.
• Decree 22/2018, of July 26, regulating accommodation establishments in the form of hostels under tourist accommodation in the Community of Castilla y León.

Organisation:

Organisation responsible

• Consejería de Cultura, Turismo y Deporte
• Dirección General de Turismo

MANAGING ORGAN:

Secciones de Turismo

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• They will be registered automatically in the Tourism Registry.
• It is mandatory to display, next to the main entrance, a standardized plaque containing the distinctive markings that certify the establishment's classification and category (in accordance with Annex I) (DOC 5).
• Upon check-in, tourists must be given an information sheet, either according to the template determined by the owner or the attached template (DOC 6).
• Information for tourists must be posted on a notice board or other similar medium, as established in Article 27 of Decree 22/2018, of July 26.
• Prices must be listed in a price list; the attached template may be used as a model. (DOC 7)
• Owners of hostel-type accommodation establishments may draw up internal regulations, which shall include, among other aspects, the hours of operation of the services offered by the establishment, the presence of pets, the proper use of equipment, and guidelines for the rational use of resources. It shall also include the conditions for admission, stay, and, where applicable, expulsion of users, with the assistance of law enforcement agencies if necessary; and the rules of conduct and operation, which may in no case be discriminatory.
• In all advertising materials, including marketing materials, correspondence, invoices, and other documentation for hostels, the category and type of establishment must be clearly indicated in a way that avoids confusion. No other names or designations may be used. The hostel's Tourism Registry number for Castile and León must also be included. Furthermore, the terms and conditions regarding reservations and the opening period must be clearly stated.
• Hostels are required to maintain a record of tourist arrivals and departures, in accordance with current public safety regulations. They must contact the National Police or the Civil Guard in the corresponding locality.
• The following link will take you to the  SES.HOSPEDAJES  platform, which the Ministry of the Interior has enabled on its website to facilitate the submission of the required information to the police, as well as the basic regulations governing this process.
• Hostels located in Castile and León are required to have complaint forms available at each of their establishments (which can be downloaded from the link in the "Related Content" section) for tourists upon request. They will also be provided with the necessary information for completing the form.
• Information about the Complaint Form (703 kbytes)

Protection of personal data:

Fact Sheet on the Processing of Personal Data (14 kbytes)