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Johannesburg - Small tourism operators have embraced measures by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) to help improve service quality.
The council this week introduced a new star grading system that would usher in more stringent minimum requirements.
TGCSA is a division of SA Tourism which grades the quality of accommodation, meetings, exhibitions and special events.
The new grading system means that mostly three-star township guesthouses will have to upgrade their TV sets, hire receptionists and install high-quality flooring if they want to retain their grading.
Thembi Kunene, TGCSA's chief quality assurance officer, said the previous grading system was phased out as it was corrupted with disparities and lacked predictability.
Phillip Usiba, chief executive of Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services' (Fabcos) tourism wing, Travel and Leisure, said the new grading system would improve the industry in the long run. However, he is concerned it would raise costs.
Usiba said: "Businesses should not be scared to pass the costs to the consumers as they are the ones who will benefit from improved services."
Fabcos will offer financial help to their members who do not have cash readily available to upgrade their guesthouses.
To qualify for a Fabcos loan (ranging from R10 000 to R3m), a guesthouse must have been a Fabcos member for at least a year, generate a yearly turnover of R300 000, be registered with Cipro and have at least three employees.
- City Press