Tourism News

Classification of Restaurants by Kerala Tourism

As part of its continued efforts to ensure quality and hygienic services at par with international standards, the Kerala Tourism has issued guidelines for classifying restaurants in the State and to provide them 'Star' status. Earlier, the Government had requested the Kerala Tourism Department to regulate the functioning of restaurants in the State. This comes in the wake of withdrawal of the scheme for Approval of Restaurants by the Central Department of Tourism with effect from July 2003. To evaluate the facilities and services provided by restaurants in the State a Restaurant Classification Committee of Kerala has been formed with the Secretary and Director of Tourism as its Chairman and Convener respectively. Other members of the committee are the principal of the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (IHMCT), Kovalam, representatives of FHRAI, HAI, IATO and TAAI. The classification granted to restaurants in the new scheme would be valid only for three years from the date of issue of orders. However, the classification is not mandatory to operate a restaurant in the State. New restaurants should apply for classification within three months from the completion of the project. Restaurants interested in re- classification should apply one year prior to the expiry of the current period of classification.