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The classification of rural tourism accommodations in Latvia has been developed by Latvian Country Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs” (Country Traveller). The quality criteria are based on the customer survey results about their quality expectations and on benchmarking with rural tourism quality schemes in European countries.
The quality system of “Lauku ceļotājs” for country dwellings, village homes, guesthouses and holiday homes consists of minimum requirements and 4 quality categories, Category 1 being the lowest and Category 4 – the highest. Each category is depicted with a respective number of symbols (1 to 4 butterflies).
Criteria for categories have been divided into six main groups:
1. Premises, equipment and facilities – general requirements related to building usage. They are related to general technical requirements for an accommodation, technical condition, setup and furnishing of each room/area devised for the use of guests. There are the following minimum requirements for obtaining each category:
– the household conditions are basic. Bathroom and WC can be located either
outsside the main building or in the bathhouse or they can be shared with the owners;
– guest rooms are located in the building occupied by the owners. Shower and
WC is located in the main building and are shared with the owners;
– premises and surroundings have been developed keeping in mind comfort requirements
of guests. Guests are provided part of a house or a separate floor. Tere is a separate
shower and WC for guests;
– this category differs from the previous one in the the way that each guest
bedroom has “en suite” shower and toilet.2. Surroundings– the closest vicinity of an accommodation – sights, natural resources, reflection of rural life at a village, etc. This represents an important aspect for choosing a vocational accommodation – as it reflects expectation of tourists of their countryside recreation. Garden furniture, appearance of buildings themselves, signposts and parking opportunities, possible outside noises and the location itself are all being assessed;
3. Extra offers and services– extra services, recreational opportunities available to guests during their stay. Options– a restaurant, a coffee–bar, a store, hiking trails, horse riding, cultural events, a bathhouse, swimming pools, etc. These services affect choices of tourists for their countryside holidays, particularly, if a guest aims at a longer period of stay at a certain location;
4. Client relations, communication – assesses attitude of hosts in their communication with guests. Impression created by hosts. Quality certificates received and knowledge of foreign languages of hosts provide extra points.
5. Security– terms and conditions for securing safety of guests and their belongings. Safe booking and availability of information on safe stay at an accommodation, quality of prior information on an accommodation, membership in professional organisations, seminars and conferences attended by hosts;
6. Sustainability – care for natural resources and environment, preservation of the individuality of rural tourism, cooperation with local population. This assessment category was introduced in the quality system in 2006 and is applied to country dwellings, village homes, guesthouses and holiday homes. Criteria of sustainability are designed to attract attention of owners to the necessity of preserving natural and environmental resources and individuality of rural tourism, not allowing it to become a mass product.
Therefore, the process of assessment of accommodations is related not only to physical parameters of buildings, but also to attractions provided, accessibility and hosts themselves. According to the common demand in rural tourism, the number of country dwellings of the third category is on the increase, thus raising the level of competition in this segment. In comparison, the number of 4th category dwellings is small. The number of 1st category dwellings is also small and demand for this type of accommodation is low.
Specific demands for each quality category as well as up to date information is available at http://www.celotajs.lv/cont/prof/quality/categories_lv.html.
At the same time hotels, guesthouses, camping sites, youth hostels can undergo a voluntary assessment of tourist accommodations according to National standards set forth for hotels, guesthouses, camping sites and hostels by the Technical Committee on Tourism Service Standardisation STK-29. It is performed by the “Centre of Hotels Restaurants, Ltd” (VRC) – a company established in 1999 by the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Latvia. VRC has implemented a voluntary system of assessment and classification for tourism accommodations and has been accredited by the National Bureau of Accreditation (LATAK), which testifies that VRC corresponds to the demands of European standard EN 45011. One can get acquainted with the demands of certification at: http://www.lvra.lv/lv/sertifikacija/klasifikacijas-kriteriji/viesu-maju-klasifikacija.html
Since 2007, a National eco-certificate, called the “Green
Certificate” has been introduced for tourism accommodations in Latvia. It
is granted by Assessment Committee on the basis of the resolution of the Minister
of Environment. "Lauku ceļotājs" is also involved in this process. Criteria
and procedure for granting the “Green Certificate” are available at
www.eko.celotajs.lv
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Rural Tourism Accommodation | Co-operation in Marketing |
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