Untitled

and Political Analysis, Cambridge: Schenkman
Publishing Company. �Focuses on the Caribbean
region and the political issues of tourism
development.)
Richter, L. �1883) `Tourism Politics and Political
Science: A Case of Not So Benign Neglect',
Annals of Tourism Research 10�3): 313±36. �A
critique of why political scientists have not
applied their research to tourism as readily as
some other social scientists.)
grading system
HARRY G. MATTHEWS, USA
Grading systems are a qualitative assessment of the
facilities and services provided by hotels, guesthouses,
inns, self-catering establishments, caravan
parks and other forms of short-let accommodation.
Grading is a generic term which may have
different interpretations. It is sometimes confused
with registration of accommodation which is the
recording of establishments on a register possibly
requiring inspection or compliance with particular
legislation. Similarly, classification is the stock of
accommodation subdivided into categories. Each
category consists of specified facilities such as the
proportion of private bathrooms, minimum size of
accommodation. Each country may classify differently
having a number of categories covering selfcatering
accommodation, guesthouses, hotels and
motels or different classifications for different types
of accommodation. Classification does not imply a
qualitative element, only that specified facilities
and services are provided, with the overall understanding
that the establishment is clean and well
maintained. The term grading or quality grading is
a qualitative assessment of the facilities described
under classification.
Grading systems are operated by national
tourism organisations such as English Tourist
Board, motoring organisations such as Automobile
Association and commercial organisations such as
Michelin. These oganisations vary in the approach
to grading which they adopt and the criteria which
they use. This presents a confused picture for the
consumer who cannot make informed comparable
judgements about the symbols and grades em-
ployed. The approaches include classification such
as Northern Ireland Tourist Board, classification
and grading such as Automobile Association
�which classify with stars and indicate a quality
grade with a percentage score); a combination of
classification and quality grading �where the
differences are not discernible to the consumer,
such as Michelin).
Initiatives are under way to united grading
systems for the benefit of the customer. In the
United Kingdom it is planned to harmonise the
schemes of the tourism boards and the motoring
organisations. In Europe the Tourism Unit of the
European Union is examining the possibility of
harmonising European grading systems.
Further reading
Callan, R.J. �1993) Àn appraisal of UK hotel
quality grading schemes', International Journal of
Contemporary Hospitality Management 5�5): 10±18 �A
comparison of UK grading schemes.)
ÐÐ �1994) `European hotel classification: book or
burden?' Hospitality 146�October/November):
14±17. �Report highlights of European grading
harmonisation.)
ÐÐ �1995) `Hotel classification and grading
schemes, a paradigm of utilisation and user
characteristics', International Journal of Hospitality
Management 14�3/4): 271±83. �Customer usage of
grading schemes and their perceived importance.)
Grand Tour
Grand Tour 259
ROGER J. CALLAN, UK
The Grand Tour was a circuit of Europe undertaken
by the wealthy, for reasons which included
culture, education, health and pleasure. Principally
centred on France, Italy and Germany, some
tours also extended to Spain, Portugal and Greece.
The dominant nationality on the Grand Tour was
the British, but there were also significant numbers
of French, German and Russian participants.
Grand Touring developed in the sixteenth century,
reached its zenith in the eighteenth century and
survived in modified form into the nineteenth