Youth Centre Hostel Up For Renovation
By Husin Ismail

Bandar Seri Begawan –The Youth Centre hostel and building is ready to invest more funds to renovate the 38-year old youth building.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of next month. Bostamam Lamat,' youth and sport senior officer said: "Within a month the whole hostel will have a brand new look.

"But there will be no added facilities planned in the renovation works, " he added.

There is no confirmation about the new pricing yet, he said.

The Youth Centre provides a number of facilities such as a multipurpose hall, swimming pool and an outside court for practising martial arts and rooms for rent.

"We are aware of the popularity of our multipurpose hall here, but in order to maintain the safety of the public, the place has to be closed while the maintenance work is going on. We will be back in service pretty soon," Bostamam said.

The number of backpackers will be reduced into half when the renovations is done by the end of March and there is no confirmations about the new pricing yet," he added.

Junaidi Mudin, worker at the youth centre, said the building is used by more than 100 people, including locals and backpackers from.52 countries every month. The rooms are rented at $10 each per night.

The renovation will hopefully boost the hostel's annual income, he said.

He said the hostel earned more than $20,000 in the previous year, he added.

"The building has been a strategic place to stay for tourists due to its central location in the capital, easy approach to the buses and taxi services, besides its cheap room rates Junaidi also said.

"The renovation plan hopefully will boost up its annual income, said Junaidi Mudin. The annual income from the hostel is more than $20,000 in the previous year," he added.

"The building provided with the swimming pool will cost $1 for everyone to use. There is a canteen that serves various types of food as well as Internet access within the building," he said.

The hostel catered up to 44 male and 16 female bed spacers.

"During the festive seasons, the rooms will be let to government officials or performers for any major field events that come from Temburong or Belait districts," added Junaidi.

"As this building belongs to the government, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, we sometimes faced some complaints from the public about the unpleasant condition of the facilities here. Some of the air-conditioners are not working properly and to get a new one sometimes takes a long time before it is granted," Junaidi said. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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