End of road for T-QUAL accreditation scheme

End of road for T-QUAL accreditation scheme
By admin


The T-QUAL accreditation scheme has been consigned to the dustbin as the government cited insufficient funding and a lack of recognition among consumers as behind the decision.

Minister for trade and investment Andrew Robb described the scheme as a “failed Labor program” and referred to recent research which shows that just 17% of consumers were aware of the T-QUAL brand with that number in decline.

“The T-Qual scheme also effectively duplicated a range of well-established and well-known accreditation and ratings’ systems which run across the tourism and hospitality sectors,” a statement said.

“The Coalition’s firm view is that the tourism sector is best-placed to assess industry standards, not government.”

Although it had taken the scheme to tender with the aim of administering it under a sustainable, self-funding model, only one response was received.

“Following a rigorous tender process the government determined that the scheme could not be transferred to industry under such a model and therefore determined to discontinue the program,” the statement said.

A sum of $600,000 that had been allocated to support the transfer of the scheme will now be redirected to other tourism initiatives.

Robb insisted the Abbott government remains committed to tourism, highlighting its support for the Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure programme, the Australia-China Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme and increased funding for Tourism Australia.

The development has been made with varied reactions from the industry.

Tourism Accommodation Australia managing director Rodger Powell recently spoke out in support of ending of the scheme in favour of the Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program.

“TAA did not believe that funding individual tourism and hospitality enterprises through the TQUAL and TIRF schemes was an equitable or efficient use of scarce funding," he said.

"To provide funding for ‘new carpets in old motels’ only rewarded operators for not providing ongoing maintenance, where as the Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure grants program will benefit all operators through development of projects such as convention centres, port facilities and tourism attractions."

However, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) said it was “astounded” by the decision.

Chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the unexpected decision has undone the extensive amount of work performed by industry, T-QUAL staff and tourism operators.

“QTIC is extremely disappointed by the Government’s decision to abandon the T-QUAL framework, considering previous statements expressing the Government’s commitment to support Australian tourism operators in delivering high quality tourism products and services,” he said.

“Tourism is a competitive market and Australia needs to make ongoing investments in the industry in order to reap the benefits from growing global demands.”

The T-QUAL scheme was launched in December 2011 by then minister for tourism Martin Ferguson.

"The T-QUAL Tick is about differentiating tourism products and services on the basis of quality," Ferguson explained at the time.

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