TGCSA 1-Star grading:

A complete guide for all establishment types

TGCSA 1-star grading means guests can expect clean, safe, functional accommodation that meets defined minimum standards for the specific type of place you run.

TGCSA publishes category rules for hotels, guest accommodation, self-catering, backpackers and hostels, caravan and camping, and game or nature lodges. tourismgrading.co.za

What 1-star means across the board

At 1-star, TGCSA looks for the essentials to be done right. In all accommodation types, a responsible person must be contactable 24 hours a day, rooms are serviced, basic safety and cleanliness are in place, and any meals advertised are actually provided.

The details below show what that looks like for each category. tourismgrading.co.za+2tourismgrading.co.za+2

Hotel family, Hotel, Small Hotel, Apartment Hotel, Boutique Hotel

Core 1-star requirements

A contactable representative is available at all times, rooms are serviced daily, all guest bathrooms are en-suite, and any meals or beverages you advertise must be provided. Breakfast is required where the category expects a dining facility. tourismgrading.co.za+1

Apartment Hotel specific

At least 60 percent of guest rooms must have a kitchenette and a dining area. tourismgrading.co.za

Lift rule

Provide a lift when any guest bedroom is more than two floors above or below the entrance level. tourismgrading.co.za

Breakfast and meal service

Dining area provided, breakfast provided, meal times communicated clearly. If you offer lunch or dinner, service and presentation must be acceptable for the market you serve. tourismgrading.co.za+1

Guest accommodation family, Guesthouse, Country House, Bed and Breakfast

Guesthouse and Country House

Host or representative is contactable 24 hours, and available on site or within a five minute drive for check in. Public areas for guests include a dining room and lounge for exclusive guest use.

Daily servicing of bedrooms and bathrooms. Bathrooms are en-suite or reserved for exclusive use by the room. Breakfast must be provided, dinner can be provided or made available. tourismgrading.co.za

Bed and Breakfast

Host lives in the house or on the property, is contactable 24 hours, and available for check in. Daily servicing, en-suite or exclusive use bathrooms, and breakfast is mandatory. tourismgrading.co.za

Self-catering accommodation, Resorts and Units

Key 1-star requirements

A senior representative is on call for safety and security, a host is contactable 24 hours, and available on site or within five minutes for check in. Each unit must have a fit for purpose food preparation area appropriate to the style of the property. tourismgrading.co.za

Bathrooms by room count

Having a bathroom for each bedroom is only required from 3-star upwards. At 1-star and 2-star, this is not mandatory, provided the unit still meets basic bathroom expectations. tourismgrading.co.za

Backpackers and hostels

Key 1-star requirements

Owner or representative is contactable 24 hours, available for check in, rooms are serviced, and there is a communal self-catering kitchen plus shared spaces for cooking, eating, and relaxing. Where electricity or Wi-Fi are not available, this must be clearly stated. tourismgrading.co.za

Bedrooms and beds

Adequate space to move in dorms and private rooms, access to both sides of double beds, standard minimum bed sizes apply, bunk beds are a maximum of two levels high with a ladder. Clean, correctly sized bedding is provided, with protectors on mattresses and pillows. tourismgrading.co.za

Storage and privacy

Lockers or lockable storage for each sleeper in dorms, curtains or coverings on windows for privacy, fit for purpose flooring, reasonable noise control. tourismgrading.co.za

Communal bathrooms

At least one bath or shower for every twelve guests, one toilet and one washbasin for every ten guests at 1-star. Private cubicles and adequate hot and cold water, with clear cleaning and ventilation standards. tourismgrading.co.za

Caravan and camping, Caravan and Camp Site, Camp Site

Who qualifies

Only facilities that cater for transient, travelling guests qualify. Where there are permanent or semi-permanent residents, their area should be distinctly separate. tourismgrading.co.za

Key 1-star requirements

Host contactable 24 hours, available for check in, communal ablutions are acceptable. Provide fit for purpose parking and clear on-site and off-site directional signage. tourismgrading.co.za

Sites and services

Demarcated, level, well drained stands, typical minimum stand sizes are outlined, access roads workable for vehicles with caravans, and power points where electricity is offered, installed to legal standards. Distances to power points should be reasonable to avoid long leads. tourismgrading.co.za

Game and nature lodges

Key 1-star requirements

Dining room and guest lounge for exclusive guest use, daily servicing of rooms and bathrooms, en-suite or exclusive use bathrooms, meals and beverages are provided, and at least one guided experience is offered, natural or cultural. tourismgrading.co.za

Public areas and service

Acceptable lighting and ventilation, clear directional signage, courteous service, reception and check in that capture guest records and communicate facilities and safety information. tourismgrading.co.za

Getting your 1-star grading, the simple process

Apply online, choose an accredited assessor, pay the invoice, then host the on-site assessment where your establishment is checked against your category criteria.

Grading runs annually, you retain your star by renewing and maintaining standards. TGCSA explains the programme and criteria on its official site, including the current master booklet. tourismgrading.co.za+1

Why 1-star still matters

You get an official quality mark that builds trust, positions you correctly for your market, and plugs you into South African Tourism channels. For many public sector bookings, graded accommodation is a requirement. tourismgrading.co.za

Five helpful Q and A

Do hotels at 1-star need to serve breakfast

Yes, there must be a dining facility and breakfast must be provided, with meal times communicated. tourismgrading.co.za

Do self-catering units need a bathroom for every bedroom at 1-star

No, that threshold starts at 3-star. At 1-star you must still provide an appropriate kitchen area for food preparation. tourismgrading.co.za

What bathroom ratios apply in backpacker communal ablutions at 1-star

Minimum of one bath or shower for every twelve guests, and one toilet and one washbasin for every ten guests, with proper privacy and ventilation. tourismgrading.co.za

When is a lift required in a 1-star hotel building

When any guest bedroom is more than two floors above or below the entrance level. tourismgrading.co.za

Can a caravan park with some long-stay residents be graded

Yes, but long-stay areas must be clearly separated from transient visitor sites to qualify. tourismgrading.co.za