0 PHRI Bali stops assessing hotel standards

The Bali branch of the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) has stopped classifying hotels, which will in future be carried out by the Tourism Certification Agency (LSP). In October 2013, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry issued Decree No. 53/2013 regarding certification of competency and certification of business operations in the tourist industry. The decree comes under the legal umbrella of the previous governmental Decree No. 52/2012. 

The ministerial decree states that the classification of hotels must be assessed by an independent tourist agency and not by a related association like the PHRI. PHRI Bali chairman Tjokorda Artha Ardana Sukawati, more commonly known as Cok Ace, told Bali Daily that the PHRI had ceased carrying out classifications last October. “We do not know when the LSP will start to undertake that work,” Cok Ace said. 

He added that there were now only 40 professionals to carry out the assessments in Indonesia, which has thousands of star- and non-star-rated hotels. A single assessment includes checking around 280 items. “It really takes time and energy to assess even one hotel,” he said. Citing an example, he said evaluating the work performance of a hotel’s human resources was a detailed and comprehensive process. 

“A failure to meet just one standard means a hotel can be denied certification,” he said. The PHRI expects the LSP to immediately begin assessing a number of hotels on the island in anticipation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. “Time is running out. We are in tight competition with hotels in neighboring countries as well as skilled workers who will flock to Indonesia, and Bali in particular as an international tourist destination,” he said. 

The PHRI has only assessed 158 star hotels in Bali, most of whom are members of the association. “There are so many new hotels claiming to be [...] star hotels without undergoing the required assessment,” he added. Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu, head of the Bali Tourism Agency, said he urged all hotels and resorts to obtain certification to be ready for the formation of the AEC in 2015.

source : bali daily