The Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants in Bali, known as PHRI Bali, has forecasted that hotel occupancy rates in Bali will increase by 5 percent due to the 42nd ASEAN Summit held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara from May 9th to 11th, 2023.
The event is expected to attract many delegates from different countries, and most of them will stay in Labuan Bajo, where hotels are limited. However, some of the delegates may choose to stay in Bali hotels, which can lead to a slight increase in occupancy rates.
According to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, the Vice Chairman of PHRI Bali, a few ASEAN Summit delegates may opt for Bali hotels due to the limited number of hotels in Labuan Bajo.
He said, “In Labuan Bajo, there are limited hotels, and after the event, they will stay in Bali. So, they have done inspections or visits to see which hotels they can use here. But I haven’t received information on the number of rooms they need.”
Suryawijaya added that he is confident that some heads of state will stay in Bali hotels during the ASEAN Summit. He said, “If we look at it, some of the heads of state will stay in Bali hotels.
For instance, Brunei Darussalam has a hotel in Bali, which is the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel. The Bruneian royal family may also choose to stay in Bali with their delegation.”
Despite the potential increase in occupancy rates, Suryawijaya believes that the delegates will not stay in Bali for a long time, as the official event lasts for only two days.
“If the event falls on a weekend, it may be extended for another two days. However, heads of state cannot stay away from their countries for long periods, and most of them have private planes,” he explained.
The PHRI Bali’s optimistic forecast for increased occupancy rates during the ASEAN Summit may not be significant, but it is a positive sign for Bali’s tourism industry, which has been struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is expected to attract international attention and promote Bali as a destination for both business and leisure tourism.
