The Quality Standard for Sustainable Tourism of Bohol (QSST) of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGB) is an accreditation system that lays down basic requisites that form part of a set of rules, conditions or requirements governing the standardization of all tourism establishments, tourism related services and/or tourism sites and activities in the province. The establishment or service provider submits to an independent review and should pass annual assessment showing that it meet at least the minimum standard requirements of product quality and service, in terms of but not limited to quality (e.g. appearance, cleanliness, facilities); safety (e.g. use of safety features in hotels); goodness of the production process or service provision (e.g. worker health and safety, resource conservation, ethical trade) in order to be awarded (or not) a seal of distinction to prove its success in meeting the standards set.

Objectives

General

  1. To encourage the standardization of tourism facilities and services in the Province of Bohol through the QSST;
  2. To boost consumer confidence that services provided by certified tourism operators will meet expectations; and
  3. To give due recognition to establishments and service providers that practice responsible business where tourists get fitting value for their money.

Specific

  1. To implement the quality sustainable tourism standards;
  2. To develop knowledge and competencies that effectively advocate, promote sustainable tourism;
  3. To evaluate and monitor the implementation of and compliance to the sustainable tourism standards.

Scope and Coverage

The sets of standards contained in the manual have been categorized into three.

Category 1 – Tourism Establishments – covers the standards governing the diffferent types of tourist accommodation facilities such as hotels, resorts, inns, pensions, bed and breakfast, and ecolodge.

Category 2 – Ancillary Tourism Facilities and Services - such as dive centers, restaurants and bars, massage and spa facilities, and the like.

Category 3 – Tourism services providers - including transport services operators, tour operators and outfitters, tour guides, tour coordinators, events managers and life guards.

Implementing Institutions

Three institutions/entities will be responsible in the overall implementation and management of the QSST. They are the following:

1.) The Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) through the PTC Executive Board with the PTC Secretariat

The PTC composed of 60% of its members from the private sector and 40% from government is the policy, advisory and recommendatory body for all tourism related programs and activities in the Province of Bohol.

The PTC Executive Board composed of the officers of the council and the chairmen of the four (4) PTC committees is the implementing body of the council, it puts into action all tourism policies, decision, recommendations and directives as embodied in ordinances or resolutions enacted by the governor, the Provincial Board and/or other tourism related agencies.

Aside from its existing functions, th PTC Executive Board is responsible in approving/disapproving application for accreditation based on the recommendation of the Committee on Sites, Services and Standards (CSSS). Once the application for accreditation is approved, PTC Executive Board will also issue the corresponding seal to formalize the accreditation of the particular tourist accommodation, tourism-related establishment, and/or tourism service providers.

PTC Secretariat on the other hand, provides support to the Executive Board and the committees, serves as liaison between the Board and other industry partners and establishes linkage with other institutions partners.

However, in addition to its current functions in the Council, the PTC Secretariat will receive application form and documents from accreditation proponents and refers the same to the CSSS or returns application forms to applicants if the same does not meet the initial screening done by the CSSS.

2.) The Committee on Sites, Services and Standards is one of the four committees of PTC tasked to:

  1. Formulate operating standards for tourism establishments and tourism service providers.
  2. Recommend for the approval of guidelines for the construction of tourism and tourism-related establishments.
  3. Prescribe (data/info) reporting on purchase, sale or lease of tourism-oriented facilities.
  4. Ensure a harmonious, positive and constructive development of the tourism industry.
  5. Recommend to regulate the issuance of licenses to tourism establishments in accordance with law
  6. Encourage formation of industry association and accrediatation by proper authorities.
  7. Coordinate with all agencies concerned for the endorsement of rules and regulations.

3.) The Application Evaluation Team (AET) is an ad hoc body to be created by the CSSS responsible in the assessment of all new applications for accreditation. The team shall be composed of three members who will come from the following sectors or concerned institutions or groups:

. One from the government sector;

. One from the private sector;

. One from the academe/other professional groups or concerned institutions.

When necessary, the CSSS may seek the outside counsel on extra ordinary fields of expertise.

The AET’s main tasks are:

. To conduct a comprehensive on-site assessment of application for accreditation; and

. To prepare the assessment report and endorse the same to the CSSS, within five (5) days from date of completion of assessment/evaluation of application.