Hotel occupancy drops in Pekanbaru

PEKANBARU, Riau: Contrary to other big cities, hotel occupancy in Pekanbaru dropped below 50 percent during the Idul Fitri holiday.

It was a huge drop, compared to normal days, when occupancy rates in hotels in Pekanbaru could reach up to 90 percent.

The drop in occupancy, for example, was experienced in the five-star hotel of Arya Duta and three-star hotel of Pangeran.

Rika and Intan, the employees of Arya Duta and Pangeran Hotels respectively, explained that the drop was attributed to the holiday.

Pekanbaru, they said, was not tourist destination, so that hotels were empty during holidays.

"Most of our guests are businessmen, who come here to do business," said Rika.

She predicted that the occupancy rate for hotels in Pekanbaru would return to normal next week, as people resume work. -- Antara