Foreign tourists book out Batam

Foreign tourists book out Batam

BATAM, Riau: Foreign holidaymakers have reserved between 40 to
80 percent of hotel rooms on Batam island for the Christmas and
New Year holidays, hotel managers said yesterday.

The holidaymakers are mainly from Singapore, which is only 20
kilometers from the fast developing island. Others are from
Malaysia and Taiwan.

Director of Puri Garden Hotel, Robin Hartono, told Antara that
up 80 percent of the hotel's rooms had been reserved as of
yesterday.

"We expect this year's rate of occupancy will be higher than
that of last year's," he said.

Officials of the four star hotel Melia Panorama said 40
percent of their 140 rooms had been booked. (pan)