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BD/A Softening of Bali's Domestic Market?
The State news agency Antara reports that an anticipated downturn in domestic tourists to Bali over the Christmas and New Years holiday 2010-2011 has resulted in lower occupancy rates in hotels on the Kuta and Sanur Beach areas.
Putu Sukarta, sales manager of the Inna Sindhu Beach Hotel, said: "At our place on Sanur beach the occupancy for the New Year's period is around 60%. Only at our property in Kuta have we had to refuse guests."
He continued, admitting in comments made during the last week of 2010, that his hotel would have problems finding the additional guest to boost occupancy to 90%. "In past years, the New Year period was always full; now to hit even 90% is extremely difficult. At this point we have around 60% occupancy.
He also revealed that, based on information received from his affiliate group hotels such as the Grand Bali Beach Sanur, Inna Veteran Sanur and the Inna Putri Bali in Nusa Dua - his property's situation of relatively soft occupancy during a normally peak period was much the same as those properties. "Only the Inna Kuta hotel on the popular Kuta beach area is fully booked," he added.
Putu said that many domestic tourists refuse to book a room when confronted with a mandatory New Year's Eve dinner package of Rp. 550,000 (US$61) per person.
Exasperated, Putu said, "I don't know why, but this year's New Year's Eve it's rather difficult to achieve our target for guests."
In Bali's central hill resort area of Ubud, Julita Candra, marketing communications manager of the Maya Ubud Resort & Spa also admitted difficulties in filling rooms, although she remained optimistic that she would eventually reach 70% over the New Year's period.
