An extension beyond the yearend deadline has been sought:
«All tourists are to be accommodated in three-star hotels and above:
TCBS Classification: Only three months remain, yet only a handful of hotels catering to tourists have made upgrades to qualify as three-star rating.
TCBS Classification: Only three months remain, yet only a handful of hotels catering to tourists have made upgrades to qualify as three-star rating.
In 2010, based on a proposal by McKinsey & Co, it was made mandatory for all one- and two-star hotels to upgrade to three-star by the 2012 end.
The policy was in line with the target of bringing in 100,000 dollar-paying and high-end regional tourists this year. The policy also mandates all tourists be lodged in three-star hotels and above.
A memorandum of understanding was signed with hoteliers and the tourism council of Bhutan secretariat (TCBS) that monitors and accredits hotels.
Hotels are classified, based on 320 parameters under six broad features of location and type of property; room comfort, quality of equipment, fittings and furniture; service facilities; leisure facilities; additional in-house facilities and services; and sustainable tourism practices.
Tourism officials said the basic requirements, such as infrastructure, guest amenities, number of staff based on the number of rooms for one- to five-star hotels remained the same, but star ratings depended on upgrading these facilities.
“To achieve a three-star status, a hotel has to gain certain minimum basic points, based on the hotel’s standard and services,” a TCBS official said. “And the basic point varies for every category.”
At present, 54 two-star hotels and 19 one-star hotels need to upgrade to three-star by yearend.
The hotel association of Bhutan has written to the secretariat requesting time extension. “We’re waiting to hear from them,” the general secretary, Tashi Rabgay, said. “There are so many issues.”
Tashi Rabgay said, after the banks stopped loans, it was difficult for hoteliers to upgrade. “Then there are labour problems,” he said. “And the work have to be carried out in sequence, as one can’t afford to close down the hotels completely.”
An owner of a one-star hotel in Paro said, except for the purchase of certain equipment and furniture, she hasn’t really done anything to upgrade the property. “Without loans from banks, it’s difficult to start work,” she said. “Upgrading means additional investment, and we haven’t even cleared our previous loans yet.”
Seasonality was another issue. “There’s no guarantee of more guests once we upgrade,” said one. “Occupancy depends on the relationship with tour operators.”
But TCBS officials said those that fail to upgrade by yearend would be delisted and no longer be allowed to cater to tourists.
Since 2010, six hotels upgraded to three-star, while 14 were delisted. “Those delisted are one- and two-star hotels,” the secretariat’s media spokesperson said. “Some of these hotels weren’t designed to cater to international tourists.”
There are 123 hotels in the country, of which eight are five-star, seven four-star, 54 two-star and 19 one-star.
The minimum set requirement of three-star accommodations for tourists, according to officials, is to encourage quality delivery and high-end tourism promotion.
Tour operators said upgrading was timely and tourists from all over had high expectations.
While it is usually tour operators, who choose the hotels in the tour packages, tourists can also choose their hotels if they wanted to stay in a more luxurious one and bear the surcharge.
“At times, some tourists don’t like the accommodation provided and often upgrade,” a tour operator said. “Some hotels don’t even have half the things our clients require, like health and safety facilities.”
Another tour operator said hotel services in some dzongkhags weren’t up to the mark at all and their clients complained a lot. “We have to make them understand that this is the best they can get in that place,” he said. “But for how long can we go on saying this?”
By Kinga Dema/ Kuensel
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