PHRI Bali Hopes Hotel Occupancy Soars 80 Percent During The U20 World Cup

Stadium I Wayan Dipta. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali hopes that the U20 World Cup in Indonesia, with one of the stadiums planned at the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar, can help increase hotel occupancy to 80 percent.

"Currently, with the arrival of more than 13 thousand (mancanegara tourists) per day, the average occupancy rate for Bali is 63 percent, although some are already 70-80 percent. With international events that will come like the U20 World Cup, of course, we hope to increase to 80 percent," said Deputy Chairman of PHRI Bali. I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, March 7.

When met at the Bali Provincial Tourism Office in Denpasar, Tuesday, Rai admitted that PHRI Bali supports the U20 World Cup held on the Island of the Gods, because it will have a positive impact on hotel occupancy, especially if world football fans make it easier to watch live at the stadium.

He predicts that by organizing international standard soccer tournaments, foreign tourists from Europe will be rewarded a lot, followed by America and Australia.

Rai added that generally European tourists will seek star housing starting from 3-5 stars, and for organizing long-term events it will allow visitors to stay for a long time (longstay).

"We have appealed (PHRI members throughout Bali) that there will be this event (U20 World Cup) so that it is anticipated, including CHSE it must remain, it is in 15 pledges, we are determined to do that," Rai said.

Although hotel rates have not fully recovered as before the COVID-19 pandemic, Rai said it was possible that there would be a special tariff when the international event took place depending on the volume of visits at that time.

The U20 World Cup is scheduled to take place from May 20 to June 11, 2023, where apart from the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium, five other stadiums in Indonesia were also prepared, namely Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (Jakarta), Si Jalak Harupat Stadium (Bandung), Manahan Stadium (Solo), Gelora Bung Tomo (Surabaya), and Jakabaring Stadium (Palembang).

The Deputy Chairperson of the PHRI Bali hopes that the event whose group draw will be held on the Island of the Gods on March 31, 2023, will be able to increase hotel occupancy and make Bali more crowded.

"But still maintain order, especially traffic, of course there will be traffic jams. We also urge tourists to comply with the existing rules in Bali, because where the land is stepped on there the sky is upheld," he said.