More rooms apply for their stars

THE Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) has recorded its highest applications for accommodation grading in January and February. January 2005 saw an increase in applications of 315% over January 2004, with 331 applications received. February 2005 applications were up 170% to 232 applications compared to February last year. These figures, says the organisation, provide a clear indication that efforts to fast track accommodation grading in the run up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup are bearing fruit. Dr Salifou Siddo , executive director of the TGCSA, says that the increase in the number of establishments joining the grading scheme can be attributed to the fact that the TGCSA has increased the number of assessors to 113, and that government only procures graded establishments. To date 54% of all accommodation rooms in the country have been graded. (Darren Sandras)