Govt to procure only graded accommodation from Jan

SOUTH Africa’s tourism grading system received an added boost last week with the announcement that government would, from January 1, make use only of graded accommodation. Speaking at the third annual national tourism conference, tourism minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, announced the government’s new procurement policy decision, saying: “Legislating a compulsory grading system will only be used as a last resort if the voluntary system does not achieve its targets. To further encourage the process of voluntary grading I would like to announce that the national cabinet has decided to only make use of graded accommodation.” Acknowledging government’s efforts to lend support for the grading council’s attempts to expand grading, the organisation’s Salifou Siddo welcomed the move. “The challenge now is to come up with clear commitment in response to this move. We need to find ways to position this not as a means of punishment, but a means of reward,” said Siddo. (Natalia Thomson)