New classification and standard system for hotels

May 23: More than 100 hoteliers, tour operators, and officials from various agencies attended a seminar on the New Classification and Standardization System for hotels in Bhutan.

The seminar was organized by the Tourism Council of Bhutan and the Austrian Coordination Office.

Speaking on the occasion the Director General of the Tourism Council of Bhutan Kezang Wangdi said the current classification system in Bhutan introduced in 1999 has not been able to gain universal support among hoteliers or consumers. He said the proposed new system will be based on star rating.

He said the proposed classification system is aimed at providing credibility and benefit all stakeholders by especially motivating them to invest and offer improved services to meet demands of the international markets.

The corporate secretary of the Hotel Association of Bhutan Dilu Giri said most of the hotels have poor infrastructure, service, and facilities and lacks professionalism.

With support from the Government of Austria, the Tourism Council of Bhutan has developed a proposal for standardization and classification system for hotels in Bhutan.

Mr. Michael Raffling, a hotel classification consultant from Austria who helped develop the proposal, said most of the hotels need to be upgraded and their services improved to meet the international standard.

The seminar was attended by the outgoing as well as the new Resident Coordinators of the Austrian Coordination Office Mrs. Marie Christine Weinberger and Mr. Christian Mazal.

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