South Sudan classifies hotels to meet international standards
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July 3, 2011 (JUBA) - The government of South Sudan on Saturday said
it will start classifying hotels operating in the regional capital of
Juba, which will soon host foreign dignatories for the regions
independence celebrations, in order to meet international standards.
South Sudan will celebrate becoming a new state - Africa’s 54th and
the world’s 193rd - on July 9.
A January plebiscite, promised in a 2005 peace deal, saw an
overwhelming vote in favour of secession from the North.
Following the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the
oil-producing region witnessed an influx of businesses from
neighboring countries. Prices of goods and accomodation have increased
dramatically over last six years despite poor services.
With the region due to celebrate her independence in less than a week
owners of hotels, apartments and villas who charge high fees risk
having the status of their properties assessed by the government.
Proprietors of self-declared three, four or five-star hotels have been
told to prepared for imposed changes if their businesses do not
conform to internationally acceptable standards.
Dr. Oliver Lomoro, the undersecretary in the ministry of health said
in a press briefing on Saturday during the ’Juba Clean’ exercise that
her ministry in collaboration with the Juba town council and the
ministry housing in the government of south Sudan are concluding an
assessment carried out in May with aims to classify hotels meeting
international standards and to find out hygienic conditions for all
hotels operating in Juba.
Speaking in the same briefing, Mohamed El Haj Babalah, the mayor of
Juba town said that most of the hotels in Juba are below international
health standards and that they are likely to face downgrading.
"The systematic assessment of hotels would be sustained through
regular training of local hotel inspectors. Experienced trainers will
teach local inspectors about the hotel standardisation system. This
will stop local hotels from declaring randomly that they had five-star
status," El Haj explained.
He added that hotel status is not about the external splendor of the
structure or fancy furniture. "It is about classification which
entails more than a dozen factors," he said.
The mayor explained that the council in collaboration with government
of Central Equatoria State and the government of South Sudan agreed to
have a common grading regulation for regional capital as a strategy
tailored to promote international standards. The new regulations will
replace the outdated regulations, which did not have a specific hotel
grading system and allowed hoteliers to grade their own hotels.
"Lack of communication might lead to regret as many hotels, apartments
or villas will be downgraded. Some owners may launch serious
complaints but the regulations are cross-cutting," he said.
He added, "It is not about the architectural beauty of the building
that determines the grade of a hotel. The assessment involves a number
of factors including professionalism among service providers."
El Hajj said that once the grading of hotels is standardised in Juba
most hotels would have their status lowered. The location of the hotel
and the saftey of the surrounding area will also be considered.
Other criteria will include:the degree of privacy, the drainage
system, the sewage treatment system, the environmental friendliness of
the facility, accommodation and the administrative structure.
Some establishments in Juba have been warned to become more hygienic
or be closed El Haj said. One hotel was recently closed as they did
not give staff contracts, he said.
However, he said that there was a genuine friendliness between locals
and visitors in Juba’s hotels, which he said was necessary to acheive
steady growth in the catering sector after the boom that will come
with independence celebrations.
"Juba is one of the most expensive places in the world yet conditions
of the hotels are deplorable. There need to be improved hygienic
conditions so that visitors need to be treated very well. They should
enjoy peaceful and welcoming atmosphere."
Mohammed Najid, an expert and consultant in hotel classification
services with South States corporation and investment in a separate
interview, cited three things that should be avoided at all cost if
South Sudan is to make progress in the hotel service sector.
"Lack of seriousness in administrative system and operations,
indiscipline, irresponsibility and a laissez-faire attitude among
entrusted officials are major setbacks,’’ Najid explained.
Language proficiency, he added, is not a serious impediment as the
majority of service providers are fluent in foreign languages. He said
that the grading and classification of hotels in South Sudan will
restore discipline and credibility to the industry by forcing it to
conform to international standards.
(ST)
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