Comments on: Should Accreditation Of Accommodation Establishments Be Required By Law? http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/ Newsletter on-line commentary and discussion about tourism in South Africa Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:00:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Rudi Roux http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-1065 Rudi Roux Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:57:08 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-1065 I believe that accreditation is essentail because it provides a benchmark and gives our accommodation indrustry creditability in the international market. It also means that set standards are required and can be expected by guests. I believe that accreditation is essentail because it provides a benchmark and gives our accommodation indrustry creditability in the international market. It also means that set standards are required and can be expected by guests.

]]> By: Elsa Lourens http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-557 Elsa Lourens Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:48:03 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-557 I DO SO AGGREE. MAKE IT LAW. I operated a four star Guesthouse for almost 4 years. We then had a lot accommodations establishments open in our town. These guys charge rediculously low prices and the accommodation is SHOCKING. We had to lower our prices (which was alreay lower than any ather graded establishment in our town).STILL our bookings did not pick up. We then decided to do an exercise in which cancelled our grading with TGCSA, Within 2 weeks we were fully booked and business has been booming for the past 4 months. THIS IS REDICILOUS. Our standard remain 4 star, and we have upped our price back to where it used to be, AND STILL we are full. This is not making sense - UNLESS - companies and individuals are not even checking any establishment that is graded when making their bookings. This van be due to economic restraints or company policies DUE to the economic climate. With making it law we ELLIMINATE the accommodation establishments that do NOT comply to SOME standards. WE NEED HELP UN THIS INDUSTRY, and regulation is the key. I DO SO AGGREE. MAKE IT LAW. I operated a four star Guesthouse for almost 4 years. We then had a lot accommodations establishments open in our town. These guys charge rediculously low prices and the accommodation is SHOCKING. We had to lower our prices (which was alreay lower than any ather graded establishment in our town).STILL our bookings did not pick up. We then decided to do an exercise in which cancelled our grading with TGCSA, Within 2 weeks we were fully booked and business has been booming for the past 4 months. THIS IS REDICILOUS. Our standard remain 4 star, and we have upped our price back to where it used to be, AND STILL we are full. This is not making sense - UNLESS - companies and individuals are not even checking any establishment that is graded when making their bookings. This van be due to economic restraints or company policies DUE to the economic climate. With making it law we ELLIMINATE the accommodation establishments that do NOT comply to SOME standards. WE NEED HELP UN THIS INDUSTRY, and regulation is the key.

]]> By: Lorraine Martin http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-520 Lorraine Martin Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:54:17 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-520 I agree that all accommodation should be at least accredited to protect unsuspecting tourists from accom vendors just wanting the money but not offering the service. Sadly each accreditation agent has different standards, and one even approved houses without towels.......hello. Show me which foreign tourist travels with a bath towel and I will rst my case. TGCSA has also dissappointed us as they have failed to address a situation satisfactorily or timeously, that was reported to them 2 years ago via our grading inspector. A part time agent in our town, who is not a member of the local tourism office, is advertising her business on houses as "***** 5 star accommodation" Her houses are not graded. TGCSA just does not seem to have the teeth or people on board to sort this kind of pirating out. I would like some comment and advise from readers about these two points. Regards, Lorraine I agree that all accommodation should be at least accredited to protect unsuspecting tourists from accom vendors just wanting the money but not offering the service. Sadly each accreditation agent has different standards, and one even approved houses without towels…….hello. Show me which foreign tourist travels with a bath towel and I will rst my case.

TGCSA has also dissappointed us as they have failed to address a situation satisfactorily or timeously, that was reported to them 2 years ago via our grading inspector.

A part time agent in our town, who is not a member of the local tourism office, is advertising her business on houses as “***** 5 star accommodation” Her houses are not graded.
TGCSA just does not seem to have the teeth or people on board to sort this kind of pirating out. I would like some comment and advise from readers about these two points.
Regards,
Lorraine

]]> By: c stevens http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-518 c stevens Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:11:57 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-518 The government increased the VAT amount for registration to 1 million. Small guesthouses have often no VAT registration. They can but they do not. If a South African company which has VAT registration ( because their turn over is more than a million ) charges foreign companies they have to add VAT. This means that foreign companies will not book for these accommodations because they are far more expensive compared to what clients see as to be paid as they arrive in that guesthouse. Smaller guesthouses etc. have a problem if they want to sell on the international market. The best way to promote small businesses ( non vat accommodations ) is that SARS should allow ground handlers / SA companies, to charge no VAT if they sell internationally. Calculation NON VAT acco R 100. Commission 10 % 10,- To be paid 90,- Selling on the international market : Buying R 90,- Vat 14 % 12.60. Commission 10,- To be received 112.60 add on for the international travel agent/tour operator at least 10 %.. Say selling for R 125.- which means a higher rate of 25 %. It is clear that the international travel agent/tour operator will not sell to avoid complaints The government increased the VAT amount for registration to 1 million.
Small guesthouses have often no VAT registration. They can but they do not.
If a South African company which has VAT registration ( because their turn over is more than a million ) charges foreign companies they have to add VAT.
This means that foreign companies will not book for these accommodations because they are far more expensive compared to what clients see as to be paid as they arrive in that guesthouse.
Smaller guesthouses etc. have a problem if they want to sell on the international market.
The best way to promote small businesses ( non vat accommodations ) is that SARS should allow ground handlers / SA companies, to charge no VAT if they sell internationally.

Calculation NON VAT acco R 100.
Commission 10 % 10,-
To be paid 90,-

Selling on the international market :
Buying R 90,-
Vat 14 % 12.60.
Commission 10,-
To be received 112.60
add on for the international travel agent/tour operator at least 10 %..
Say selling for R 125.- which means a higher rate of 25 %.
It is clear that the international travel agent/tour operator will not sell to avoid complaints

]]> By: Michelle Tiedt http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-517 Michelle Tiedt Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:18:07 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/should-accreditation-of-accommodation-establishments-be-required-by-law/#comment-517 I think part of the problem is the system whereby the tourism association is an organisation which only promotes it's members, it is then compelled to promote both good and bad establishments equally. I dont really think this is in keeping with the spirit of tourism. Tourism is supposed to be the promotion of activities within an area which promote the town/area as a destination. It then preturbes me that the tourism organisation only promotes it's paying members. I feel that tourism creates jobs, hence a tourism organisation should be heavily sponsored by government and municipalities and should promote any potential tourism oppourtunities equally. By charging eg R440 in a small rural town effectively marginalises any poorer sector of the community, so effectively stunting development of tourism in this sector. I think part of the problem is the system whereby the tourism association is an organisation which only promotes it’s members, it is then compelled to promote both good and bad establishments equally. I dont really think this is in keeping with the spirit of tourism. Tourism is supposed to be the promotion of activities within an area which promote the town/area as a destination.
It then preturbes me that the tourism organisation only promotes it’s paying members. I feel that tourism creates jobs, hence a tourism organisation should be heavily sponsored by government and municipalities and should promote any potential tourism oppourtunities equally. By charging eg R440 in a small rural town effectively marginalises any poorer sector of the community, so effectively stunting development of tourism in this sector.

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