Tough Times For Sultanate's Hotels
Debbie Too

Bandar Seri Begawan - While many retailers and industries are enjoying good profits in the days before the upcoming Hari Raya celebration, Brunei Darussalam's, hotel industry looks grim.

A check at most of the fourand five-star hotels here revealed that they expect a 30 per cent drop in occupancy during the festive season.

"Functions like conferences, weddings and official gatherings help us boost our occupancy rates. During Hari Raya, these functions are held less frequently than the rest of the year," said Ashadi Ajimain, Senior Sales and Marketing Executive of the Orchid Garden Hotel.

He said the projected figure was actually an improvement, compared to last year's 40 per cent drop in occupancy rates.

"At least this time around, we have guests from Australia and China staying in. our hotels during the festive period," he said. David Arul Pratasam, director of sales and marketing of the Rizqun International Hotel, expressed a similar view.

"The occupancy rate at hotels in Brunei really depends on the events that are happening here at that time. So when we have major events like the East Asian Insurance Congress, nearly every hotel in Brunei is full," David said.

He pointed out .that Brunei hotels enjoyed brisk business during His Majesty's 60th birthday celebration this year as tourists from all around the world took this opportunity to visit Brunei and experience a once in a lifetime celebration in the Sultanate.

When asked if there would be promotions to help boost occupancy rate, most major hotels revealed that they opted not to have any Hari Raya promotions.

This is due to the fact that Bruneians are still a close-knit community and they keenly practise- the tradition of spending time with families and close friends during the festival.

However, there are a few hotels fortunate enough to not experience a reduction in occupancy rates during the festive period. One of them is The Empire Hotel and Country Club.

"Our occupancy is fairly level all year round, said Anne Busfield, its general manager.

However, the hotel does try to accomodate Bruneians' needs .during the festive season by offering Aidilfitri lunch and dinner buffets for the first three days of Hari Raya. "For those who wish to celebrate Hari Raya without the worry of clearing the dishes or cleaning up, we have the buffets for you," she said.

Meanwhile, hotels and tourist agencies said festive activities involving the, Sultanate's monarch played a significant role in boosting tourism, especially during lull periods like Hari Raya.

As such, most hotels and tour agents are now, luring foreign tourists to enjoy the Hari Raya open house at Istana Nurul Iman.

Sugumaran Nair, Tour Manager of Freme Travel, said his company had included a trip to the palace on Hari Raya in its tour packages.

"Tourists from China, Japan and all around the world enjoy that part of the tour." '

He said this was a rare opportunity for tourists to meet the royal family at their home as the palace was only open to the public on Hari Raya.

The palace will be open to the public from the second to the fourth day of Hari Raya where His Majesty Sultan Haji Hasannal Bolkiah Muizzadin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, will personally greet his guests.  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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