A or A+? Tourism facilities to be rated

Tourists wishing to visit Karnataka, which promises many worlds within one State, will soon not have to depend on ratings on private websites to judge tourist facilities. They can log on to a government-maintained portal, which displays ratings earned by tourism facilities through government-empanelled agencies.

The State’s Tourism Department, on Friday, announced the rating scheme for 18 tourist facilities in the State, including eco-tourism, adventure tourism, homestays and resorts. Four accreditation agencies have been empanelled to carry out the rating process.

Tourism and Higher Education Minister R.V. Deshpande said: “Tourists will know which is a good hotel or restaurant in Karnataka, while they are sitting in their headquarters,” he said.

T.V. Mohandas Pai, who headed the Karnataka Tourism Vision Group, said the proposal to rate facilities was made in view of the “knowledge asymmetry “between tourists and tourism assets. “On the other hand, people who have tourism assets need to have choices. That is why we have four rating agencies,” he added.

Gurleen Kaur, Vice-President, Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Ltd., said tourism facilities could approach any of the four rating agencies.

Depending on their net worth, they will have to pay the agency a fee of Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 21,000. Based on parameters such as lighting, design and room-size, they will be rated from A to E (with plus or minus). Only those with ratings will be displayed on the government portal, she said.