AMMAN - The Kingdom's rated eateries and restaurants will be forced to meet more stringent requirements to retain their rankings under a new classification system being developed by the Ministry of Tourism.
A committee formed by the Ministry of Tourism and headed by Jordan Restaurants Association (JRA) President Zaid Goussous is currently developing a new system to rate restaurants across the Kingdom, according to the JRA.
The former classification system was based on factors such as restaurant size, amount of initial investment and interior décor, rather than food quality and customer service, according to the JRA president.
In addition to quality of the cuisine, the new classification system will rate restaurants according to their ambiance, cleanliness and sustainability of services, he said.
Under some of the proposals being considered for the new system, inspectors will make surprise visits posing as patrons to gauge food and service quality.
Another proposed change would give the ministry the authority to revoke licences if an establishment abuses its ranking, as a bid to ensure that restaurant owners maintain service and health standards after the classification.
Previously, some establishments would abuse their classifications, according to Goussous, also a restaurant owner.
Some restaurants may lack the size to be classified as a tourist restaurant or be allowed to sell alcohol, while others abuse the privilege and convert their eateries into nightclubs, he noted.
Also under the proposed changes, modelled after classification systems enacted in three Mediterranean countries, eateries will receive "forks" rather than "stars" to reinforce the concept that the ranking is based on service and food quality rather than prestige.
The reclassification comes as part of a comprehensive plan by the Ministry of Tourism to update regulations and attract investment in the tourism sector, which generated JD2.1 billion, some 14 per cent of the gross domestic product in 2008.
Among the changes is a reclassification of hotels in line with modern standards.
By Taylor Luck
© Jordan Times 2009
