Destruction Of Hotel-Restaurant Businesses In West Java Due To COVID: Occupancy Slumps Up To 1 Percent, Maximum Guests 3 People

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

BANDUNG - The Regional Leadership Body (BPD) of the West Java Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) stated that as many as 560 hotels and 280 restaurants in the West Java region were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In June 2020, there were 560 hotels that were closed, 280 restaurants were closed. It is likely that the situation will be greater in June 2021 because at this time the condition of hotels on Jalan Cihampelas alone has six closed with hotel occupancy below five percent," said the Chairman of PHRI Java. West ((Jabar) Herman Muchtar at an online press conference in Bandung, Antara, Thursday, August 5

The number of hotels and restaurants that are closed due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, said Herman, could be higher because the data is last year's data.

"We believe that the current data is incomplete and may be higher than last June," he said.

For example, said Herman, in the Cihampelas area of Bandung City, there are currently six hotels that were forced to close due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"That's in Cihampelas closed because the occupancy is below five percent, even only one percent. This is very sad. There are also 3 and 4 star hotels that are closed," he said.

Meanwhile, responding to the attempted suicide of a member of the Cafe and Restaurant Association (AKAR) at Bandung City Hall, Herman revealed that he did not know the plans carried out by Gan Bondillie or Bonbon.

"If the PHRI and AKAR administrators knew about Bonbon's plan, we would have banned it. No one knows, they found out after the incident," said Herman

His party regretted this incident because many people had experienced the same thing, but he emphasized that God did not give difficulties according to his ability.

"So in May, we all said in a meeting that entrepreneurs could survive until July 2021 with sufficient funds," said Herman.

According to him, this also affects employees who are laid off and employers are confused about what to pay for. He revealed the condition of his hotel employees that initially there were 80, now there are 26 left and their working hours must be divided.

"For hotel guests, there are at most three (people). Covering the condition of minus six months is still better, if it is now 1.5 years," he said.