An individual operator needs to bring information about his accommodation to the tourist before he sets off on his journey and also when he reaches his destination. Similarly, the tourist, on the other hand, needs to know in detail what accommodation is available at what price in particular destination from which he can make a choice about what and where to stay. Schemes of classification, registration and grading of the tourist accommodation are intended to meet these requirements.
The United Nations Conference on International Travel and Tourism held in Rome in 1963 also emphasised the need for some sort of regulation of the accommodation with a view to safeguard interests of the users.
Considering that special attention should be given to relations between the public authorities and the operators of tourist accommodation facilities, the conference advocated the adoption of a hotel trade charter codifying the regulations applicable to the hotel industry and, in particular, giving official tourist organizations powers enabling them to perform the activities devolving on the state in that field.
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The conference observed that many states classify tourist hotels or are considering doing so. Acting upon the recommendations put forward by IUOTO and the International) Chamber of Commerce, the conference advocated the standardization of methods of classification, and in particular, the subdivision of hotels into five categories, each identified by a conventional sign (stars) in conformity with sets of standards appropriate to different climatic conditions.
The conference also considered the question of classifying supplementary means of accommodation such as tourist bungalows and camps.
Classification:
Classification separates accommodation into different classes or categories on the basis of certain criteria, for example, by type of accommodation such as hotels, holiday camps and caravan sites.
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A scheme of classification seeks to present information about tourist accommodation in a form which will enable the user to find information he requires easily and quickly and to be able to compare it with similar types.
Apart from having the information classified by location, a tourist needs to know the availability of accommodation which meets his requirements as to type, price and other criteria.
Registration:
The aim of registration is to provide a complete list of register of tourist accommodation within a particular definition. A registration scheme results in an inventory of accommodation which can be kept up to date.
In order to be comprehensive, it normally has to have statutory legal authority and is administered by a government authority or a statutory body.
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Because of the wide range of accommodation used by the tourists, a scheme of registration should normally cover all forms of accommodation used by them.
Gradation:
Grading separates accommodation into different categories or grades on the basis of judgments on the amenities and facilities of a particular accommodation unit in a form which enables the user to choose the quality of accommodation he requires.
This may refer to the physical facilities, food and other services of the establishment, various amenities provided, etc. The establishments are graded individually or collectively by way of giving them numbers, letters or symbols.
The schemes of classification, registration and grading in operation differ in various countries. Some countries incorporate only registration, some others classification and some grading. The standards adopted also differ from country to country.