File photo: A glimpse of Juba city, taken on May 10, 2024. Credit: Eye Radio / Koang Pal Chang

The Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism has launched a new hotel classification system aimed at improving hospitality management and aligning South Sudan’s standards with the East African Community’s (EAC) one-to-five-star rating system.

The classification will apply to hotels, lodges, and other accommodation facilities across the country.

Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, Denay Jock Chagor, said the initiative is designed to improve service quality and protect citizens from unsafe hospitality practices.

He noted that some facilities currently operating in the country do not meet the minimum standards required to be classified as hotels or guest houses.

“Some facilities do not even qualify to be a hotel or even a guest house. The protection of South Sudanese people comes first,” Minister Chagor said.

“You cannot be giving unqualified services to the South Sudanese people that are even dangerous for them and then brand it as a hotel or guest house. That has to be looked at. That’s a crime. It shouldn’t happen in this country.”

He warned that facilities offering unsafe or substandard services will no longer be allowed to operate under hotel or guest house branding.

Frederick Jack Omonde, an expert from East African Community Affairs, explained that the classification system evaluates hotels based on physical quality, guest facilities, services, and sustainability.

He said the system will help distinguish South Sudanese hotels from others in the region.

“I’m certain that by having this classification, hotels here in South Sudan will be set apart from the rest,” Omonde said. “Most of all, the Radisson Blu Hotel is highly committed to be part of this activity and to support with our old internationally branded hotel exposures that we have, that one that we brought in South Sudan.”

The new system marks a significant step toward raising hospitality standards and ensuring safer and more reliable services for visitors and residents alike.