Quality Assurance Now A Step Closer For Smmes

The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa has launched its Basic Quality Verification BQV programme in Gauteng. It is the third province, after the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, where small, medium and micro enterprises SMMEs can now apply for basic verification of quality assurance.

The initiative which will eventually be rolled out nationwide aims to support SMMEs in rural small towns and villages.

This platform allows local businesses, particularly those in the tourism and service sectors, to request a formal quality verification that can bolster customer confidence and provide a recognised standard of service.

Through this programme, which is critical to the inclusive growth of the tourism economy, we strive to provide access to training programmes, resources and funding opportunities to help businesses reach their full potential, says Chief Quality Assurance Officer at the TGCSA Bronwen Auret .

The TGCSA recognises the challenges faced by SMMEs in the tourism value chain in securing trusted quality endorsements, especially in remote areas, Auret points out.