KARACHI, Oct 20: Room occupancy in leading hotels has dropped to 20 per cent in the last three days following issuance of travel advisory notes (TAN) by foreign missions after the Eidul Fitr declaring the city unsafe to visit in the wake of deteriorating law and order situation and also urged their countrymen to restrict movement in other parts of the country.
Pakistan Hotels Association (PHA) chairman Muzaffar Baweja told Dawn on Saturday that some 20 per cent functions in leading hotels had either been postponed or cancelled since the panic and uncertainty had gripped the city after the killing of 140 persons in bomb blasts on Thursday night.
He added that the travel advisory notes do not mention of any specific time limit as much would depend on the city situation.
There is 30:70 ratio of room occupancy in leading hotels as foreigners’ share is 30 per cent while 70 per cent is shared by locals in normal days. “Currently, only five per cent foreigners and 15 per cent locals are currently staying in the hotels,” he added.
For the last six to eight months hotels have been witnessing an average 60 per cent room occupancy which can be termed as satisfactory and normal, he said. He, however, claimed that small hotels in various areas especially in Saddar were experiencing very low room occupancy after the October 18 carnage as compared to leading big hotels.
“I think the room occupancy may face turbulence till the general elections are held as much would also depend on the city’s law and order situation,” Mr Muzaffar added.
General Manager Gulf Hotel in Saddar, Sabeel-ur-Rahman said that only 10 rooms were currently occupied out of 84 rooms. “There should be 50 per cent room occupancy after Eid but the tragic incident has severely hit the hotel business,” he said, adding that all room bookings from upcountry visitors and even from locals have either been cancelled or postponed for one week.
He said other local hotels in vicinity of Saddar had 10 per cent room occupancy and there were hardly any foreigners. “Foreigners in normal days usually hold 15-20 per cent share in total room occupancy in small hotels and the rest by visitors from the upcountry,” he added.
Regional Chairman Sindh and Balochistan Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP) Raees Ahmad Siddiqui said that there was only 40 per cent business on Saturday, while their business was completely suspended on Thursday and Friday because of flights cancellation, fear among travellers, road blockade and law and order situation.
He said people arriving from Saudi Arabia and passengers leaving for Europe and America had faced tremendous hardships in the last three days.
FPCCI’s Haj and Umra Committee chairman Yahya Polani said that there had been only 50 per cent movement of travellers after the October 18 carnage especially from the businessmen and added that even those who arrived from abroad to celebrate Eid with their families here had postponed their departure for one week.
