Smooth elections bring hope to hotel industry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesia Hotel & Restaurant Association
\nsaid on Tuesday the peaceful general election brought the ailing
\nhotel industry hope of recovery.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general Rianto Nurhadi said the relatively smooth
\npolls on Monday would contribute to long-term stability and
\nsecurity in the country.<\/p>\n
"If the peaceful situation continues, I believe the hotel
\nindustry will be able to recover within a year," he told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which has been marred by religious and ethnic
\nclashes over the past several months, held its most democratic
\nelections in over 40 years on Monday. Fears that the elections
\nwould be marred by unrest were not realized, although there is
\nstill concern the losers of Monday's polls could cause clashes.<\/p>\n
The public relations director of the Mandarin Oriental hotel
\nin Central Jakarta, Ria Leimena, shared Rianto's optimism, adding
\nthat a fair ballot count was important to ensure the immediate
\nrecovery of the hotel industry as well as other business sectors.<\/p>\n
"If the results of the vote are accepted by all parties, no
\ntroubles will occur and business can return to normal," she told
\nthe Post.<\/p>\n
The occupancy rates of local hotels have continued to drop due
\nto a decline in the number of foreign visitors. Riots and unrest
\nacross the archipelago have discouraged most foreign tourists
\nfrom visiting the country.<\/p>\n
He predicted an upswing of business activities after the
\nelections would boost the occupancy rates and average room rates
\nof hotels.<\/p>\n
Hotels occupancy rates currently stand at between 20 percent
\nand 40 percent on average, or about half the average occupancy
\nrate before the economic crisis. (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/smooth-elections-bring-hope-to-hotel-industry-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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