[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ enable_mobile=”no” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”none” sep_color=”” class=”” id=””]Reimbursement on TGCSA fees offered[/title][fusion_text]The National Department of Tourism recently introduced the Tourism Incentive Programme (TIP) to, amongst other aims, improve destination competitiveness and stimulate the development and growth of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises.

The programme aims to contribute towards achieving the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP), the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) and other government policy documents.

One of the focus areas of the TIP is to improve consistency in the quality standards of facilities and services of tourism accommodation and meetings, exhibitions and special events (MESE) establishments. The Tourism Grading Support Programme under the broader TIP is designed to encourage more accommodation and MESE establishments to get graded and remain graded under the star grading system of the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA).

The Tourism Grading Support Programme therefore offers assistance in the form of a structured system of rebates on the final grading assessment fee paid to the TGCSA. The following rebates are offered:

• a 30% New Member rebate (first year) on the first assessment of a previously ungraded accommodation establishment
• a 35% First-renewal rebate (second year) on the first re-assessment of an existing TGCSA member that has been graded for one year and maintained its grading
• a 40% Second-renewal rebate (third year) on the second re-assessment of an existing TGCSA member that has been graded for two consecutive years and maintained its grading
• a 45% Third-renewal rebate (fourth year) on the third re-assessment of an existing TGCSA member that has been graded for three consecutive years and maintained its grading
• a 50% Loyalty rebate upon renewal of membership for members that have been graded for five consecutive years or longer as at January 2015. This rebate is available on the fourth and subsequent renewal of membership for an existing TGCSA member that has been graded for four consecutive years and maintained its grading
• an additional 10% Transformation rebate for first-time assessments or renewals, which will be awarded to establishments with a certified B-BBEE compliance level 3 or higher for Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs), and certified B-BBEE compliance level 4 or higher for Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) and Large Enterprises (LEs).

To be eligible for all these rebates, applicants need to have been awarded star grading by the TGCSA with effect from January 2015.

For more information on how to apply for the above-mentioned programme, access the departmental website on www.tourism.gov.za . For further explanation you can email tipenquiries@tourism.gov.za.[/fusion_text][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

Download the following documents for the Tourism Grading Support Programme

[/fusion_text][button link=”http://www.tourism.gov.za/CurrentProjects/TIP/Documents/TSP%20Guidelines.pdf” color=”default” size=”” type=”” shape=”” target=”_self” title=”” gradient_colors=”|” gradient_hover_colors=”|” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”1px” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” modal=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ alignment=”” class=”” id=””]Guidelines for the Tourism Grading Support Programme[/button][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][button link=”http://www.tourism.gov.za/CurrentProjects/TIP/Documents/Application%20Form%20Tourism%20Grading%20Support%20Programme.pdf” color=”default” size=”” type=”” shape=”” target=”_self” title=”” gradient_colors=”|” gradient_hover_colors=”|” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”1px” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” modal=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ alignment=”” class=”” id=””]Application form for the Tourism Grading Support Programme[/button][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]In order to see the Application form you will need to download Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader lets you read and print any document created as a PDF file. Once you have opened the Application form in Adobe Reader you will be prompted to download Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Font Pack in order to complete the Application form.[/fusion_text][/fullwidth]