Ahead Of The Nataru Holiday, The Hotel Order Level On The Island Of Java Has Reached 70 Percent

Illustration, the situation at Soetta Airport/ Photo: Bitor Ekin Putra

JAKARTA - Hotel entrepreneurs are preparing to welcome domestic and international tourist visits ahead of the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays. The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) revealed that hotel bookings have increased. PHRI Secretary General Maulana Yusran explained that hotel bookings ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays are very varied in each region. Especially for Java Island, there has been an increase. "In Java Island, the increase is quite good. Finally, we heard that it was already above 70 percent of hotel bookings," said Yusran when contacted by VOI, in Jakarta, Sunday, December 11. Meanwhile, in Bali, said Yusran, hotel booking rates have not seen a significant increase. Based on PHRI data, the average hotel booking rate ahead of the Nataru holiday is still considered at 50 percent. "My Bali report is still considered at 50 percent on average," he said. Furthermore, Yusran revealed, conditions are different from hotel booking rates in eastern Indonesia which are still very low ahead of the Nataru holiday.

"In Sulawesi, an order has not yet been formed. Will it be (there will be an increase in bookings) in the last minute," he said. As is known, the tourism sector has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even this sector has been paralyzed for the past two years. Currently, the tourism sector has started to revive in line with the easing during the COVID-19 transition period. This year's Nataru holiday will be different from the previous years. Where, at that time the government had issued a regulation to regulate community activities during the Naru holiday period through the Minister of Home Affairs Instruction Number 66 of 2021. The travel rules listed in it are mandatory for two vaccines and have carried out an antigen test which is valid for only 1x24 hours for long trips with public transportation modes. Meanwhile, for those who have not been vaccinated and those who cannot be vaccinated are prohibited from traveling long distances.

Regarding the rules for limiting the 2022 New Year celebrations, celebrations are recommended to be carried out individually or with family to avoid crowds; prohibited from holding New Year's parades or processions.

If you want to visit the Shopping Center or Mall, you have to check in with the PeduliLindung application, then the operating hours are extended to 09.00-22.00 local time to prevent crowds, but the number of visitors is limited to a maximum of 75 percent of the total capacity, and must apply stricter health protocols. Meanwhile, regulations at tourist attractions or recreation must apply health protocols, only allowing visitors with the green category in the PeduliLindung application, limiting visitors to a maximum of 75 percent of capacity, prohibiting celebratory parties with crowds, reducing the use of loudspeakers to prevent crowds, and limiting community activities, such as cultural arts performances, which risk causing crowds.