Tourism Grading Council of South Africa

What Tourism Grading Council of South Africa does

Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) is the sole officially recognised quality assurance body for tourism accommodation and venue establishments in South Africa, operating as a business unit of South African Tourism under the authority of the Tourism Act 72 of 1993. Established in 2000 by Minister Valli Moosa, with grading criteria introduced in 2002 and a major revision effective 01 April 2019, TGCSA administers a proprietary star grading system spanning 1 to 5 Stars plus a 5-Star Premium tier across nine establishment categories (Formal Accommodation, Guest Accommodation, Self-Catering, Game and Nature Lodges, Backpackers and Hostels, Caravan and Camping, and Venues) and 17 niche-market accolades including Responsible Tourism aligned to SANS 1162.

The organisation generates revenue primarily through annual subscription membership fees that vary by establishment type, room/unit count, and average room rate, with a 5% fee increase applied in 2017. The Tourism Grading Support Programme (TGSP), administered by TGCSA since 2017 and relaunched for the 11 July 2025 to 30 March 2026 window, offers up to 80% discounts on grading fees (up to 90% combined with TOMSA levy contributions), funded through the Department of Tourism's Tourism Incentive Programme. The Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP), run in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation and NCPC-SA, adds an adjacent sustainability offering. Delivery is executed through web-based application portals and a national network of 40+ accredited independent grading assessors across all nine provinces, with no external resellers.

TGCSA serves approximately 5,000+ graded establishments spanning SMMEs through to large hotels, alongside a government customer segment whose demand is anchored by National Treasury Instruction 04 of 2017/18 mandating use of graded accommodation for official travel. Marketing and outreach operate through provincial roadshows, the annual INDABA trade show, Lilizela Tourism Awards ceremonies, TripAdvisor master classes, and digital channels including social media and the public searchable establishment directory.

Name

Tourism Grading Council of South Africa

Legal name

Tourism Grading Council of South Africa

Website

https://tourismgrading.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tourism Grading Council of South Africa is the official national quality assurance body for South African tourism, certifying accommodation and venue establishments through a 1–5 Star plus Premium grading system across nine categories, serving 5,000+ establishments in all nine provinces under the Tourism Act 72 of 1993.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Quality Assurance

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Tourism quality assurance
• Star grading system
• Accommodation certification
• Hospitality standards
• Tourism grading

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandton

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Star Grading Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for graded establishments. Fees are determined by establishment type, number of rooms/units, and average room rate. Fees increased by 5% effective 01 April 2017. Members receive TGCSA Star Grading plaque and certificate for display.
2. Tourism Grading Support Programme (TGSP) Discounts: The TGSP, part of the national Tourism Incentive Programme, offers discounts of up to 80% on TGCSA grading fees, with an additional 10% discount for businesses contributing to the TOMSA levy, bringing total savings to 90%. Programme runs from 11 July 2025 until 30 March 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TGCSA provides official star grading certification (1 to 5 Stars plus a 5-Star Premium level) for tourism accommodation and venue establishments across South Africa through a national network of accredited assessors. Its core offering is built on the principles of South African National Standards (SANS 1162) and includes the BQV entry-level programme, the Accolades Programme for niche recognitions, and the Lilizela Tourism Awards. Operations are anchored by statutory authority under Tourism Act 72 of 1993 and the National Treasury mandate requiring government travelers to use graded establishments.

Product overview

The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa operates a comprehensive quality assurance ecosystem for tourism accommodation and venues. At its core is the TGCSA Star Grading System, which rates establishments from 1 to 5 stars plus a Premium tier across multiple categories (Hotels, B&Bs, Self-Catering, Game Lodges, Caravan & Camping, Backpackers, and Venues). This is complemented by the Accolades Programme for niche market recognition (17 categories), the Basic Quality Verification (BQV) Programme for emerging establishments, and the Tourism Grading Support Programme offering fee discounts. The Green Tourism Incentive Programme supports sustainable operations, while the Lilizela Tourism Awards celebrate excellence. All services are delivered through a web-based platform supporting online applications, assessor selection, and searchable establishment directories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TGCSA Star Grading System Official quality assurance and star rating system for South African tourism accommodation and venue establishments, ranging from 1 to 5 Stars plus a 5-Star Premium level, applicable across nine establishment categories.
• TGCSA Accolades Programme Recognition mechanism for niche market services and facilities at graded establishments, offering 17 accolades including Wedding Venue, Cycling Tourism, Birding, Family Friendly, and Responsible Tourism.
• Basic Quality Verification (BQV) Programme Entry-level quality assurance initiative for SMMEs and community-based tourism businesses not yet meeting full grading requirements, providing a structured pathway toward full TGCSA certification.
• Tourism Grading Support Programme (TGSP) Financial incentive programme offering up to 90% discount on TGCSA grading fees (80% standard plus 10% for TOMSA levy contributors), funded by the Department of Tourism under the national Tourism Incentive Programme.
• Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP) Sustainability programme encouraging energy and water efficiency in tourism enterprises, covering 90% of energy efficiency audit costs and offering grant funding from 30-90% (capped at R1 million) for renewable energy solutions.
• Lilizela Tourism Awards Annual national awards programme recognizing service excellence among TGCSA graded establishments and tourism businesses, adjudicated through public votes and industry judges with provincial and national ceremonies.
• Online Application System Web-based platform for submitting grading applications, selecting accredited assessors, uploading required documents, and managing membership renewals.
• Establishment Search Directory Public searchable database of TGCSA graded establishments by location, category, and star rating, used by travelers to find quality-certified accommodation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% of graded establishments regard TGCSA as an important contributor to the tourism industry in South Africa
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017IDC manages the Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP) on behalf of the Department of Tourism. GTIP encourages tourism enterprises to move toward cleaner and renewable energy sources with grant funding for energy and water efficiency measures.
• National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017Provides technical support for GTIP, conducting energy and water efficiency audits to determine best solutions for audited establishments.
• National TreasuryflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017National Treasury Department issued instruction requiring all government travelers to stay in TGCSA graded establishments. Creates mandate-driven demand for graded establishments, significantly expanding market access for TGCSA members.
• North West Department of Tourism (NWDT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership to grade previously hidden establishments in villages, townships and small dorpies (VTSDs). Achieved 60.5% increase in graded establishments (173 to 286) from 2016-2017. Provided 100% waiver for TGCSA assessment and membership fees to qualifying SMMEs.
• TripAdvisorminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2013Partnership for TripAdvisor Master Classes at INDABA. World's biggest travel website with 60 million unique monthly visitors. Provides marketing and visibility support for TGCSA graded establishments.
• South African TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000TGCSA operates as a business unit of South African Tourism. SAT provides organizational support, marketing alignment, and co-branding for TGCSA grading initiatives. The partnership drives visitor numbers and supports SAT's strategic plan to grow visitors by 5 million in 5 years.
• Department of TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department of Tourism collaborates with TGCSA on the Tourism Grading Support Programme (TGSP), part of the national Tourism Incentive Programme. Provides funding for discounts on TGCSA grading fees (up to 90%).
• Department of TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with South African Tourism and TGCSA for the Basic Quality Verification (BQV) Programme, celebrating quality excellence among tourism establishments.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Forbes Travel Guide: Global luxury hotel and spa rating authority publishing Forbes Travel Guide Star Ratings. Comparable as a star-based quality assessment body for accommodation, though focused on the luxury segment globally and operating as a private commercial brand rather than a government unit.
• AAA (American Automobile Association) Diamond Ratings: North American hotel and restaurant Diamond rating programme (1-5 Diamonds) operated by AAA. Comparable as a long-established, broadly recognized quality grading scheme for accommodation, though it is a private membership organization with a broader motoring and travel portfolio.

Direct peers

• Hotelstars Union: European hotel star rating union harmonizing national hotel classification systems across multiple countries. Directly comparable as a multi-country star grading certification body for accommodation establishments, operating with similar quantitative/qualitative criteria and assessor-based assessment models.
• AA Hotel Services (AA Quality): UK-based hotel star rating and quality assessment service operated by the AA. Directly comparable as a national quality grading scheme for accommodation that produces star ratings (1-5) used by travelers for booking decisions.
• VisitEngland Quality Rose: England's official quality assessment scheme for accommodation and visitor attractions, providing gold/silver awards. Directly comparable as a state-backed national tourism quality mark that assesses and certifies establishments against published criteria.

Others

• World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): Global industry body representing the travel and tourism sector, including the SafeTravels protocols and sustainability frameworks. Adjacent as an international policy and standards-setting organization with overlapping interest in tourism quality and responsible tourism standards that TGCSA's Responsible Tourism Accolade aligns with.
• South African National Standards (SABS) / SANS 1162: South African Bureau of Standards, the national standards body whose SANS 1162 standard underpins TGCSA's Responsible Tourism Accolade. Thematically related as the upstream national standards authority that TGCSA's quality criteria build upon.

Regional players

• Tourism New Zealand (Qualmark): New Zealand's official tourism quality assurance programme (Qualmark) assessing accommodation and activities against quality and sustainability criteria. Closely comparable as a national tourism quality mark with star ratings and sustainability components, operating in a different geography.
• DEHOGA (German Hotel and Restaurant Association) Classification: Germany's national hotel classification system (1-5 stars) managed by the industry association DEHOGA and integrated with Hotelstars Union. Comparable as a national hotel classification scheme that assesses establishments against defined star criteria.
• Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) - Quality Tourism: Australian industry body that operated the national Star Ratings scheme for accommodation and the Quality Tourism program. Comparable as a national tourism quality accreditation framework with star-based grading, though now largely succeeded by the independent STAR Ratings Australia.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tourism-grading-council-of-south-africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tourism Grading Council of South Africa