DENPASAR ~

The occupancy rate of star-rated hotels in Bali reached 54.50 percent during March 2015, a decrease of 5.53 percent over the previous month (February 2015), which reached 69.02 percent.

“Despite the decline, the hotel occupancy rate is still relatively good because the average above 50 per cent is able to cover operating costs and salaries of the employees,” said the head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali Panusunan Siregar in Denpasar on Monday.

He said Bali during March 2015 received as many as 305.272 tourist arrivals, up 10.38 percent compared to the same month in 2014, but a decrease of 9.95 percent over February 2015.

Panusunan Siregar said the room occupancy rate (TPK) peak in March 2015 occurred in Tabanan Regency, which reached 69.02 percent, down from the previous month that reached 76.33 percent. Following the existing hotel in Denpasar which reached 62.51 percent, also down from the previous month up to 67.70 percent, Badung regency in 57.66 percent also dropped from the previous month which reached 62.37 percent.

Hotel occupancy rate in Gianyar in March 2015 amounted to 41.08 percent, slightly up from the previous month which recorded 40.47 percent, 29.56 percent Karangasem regency, up from the previous month and 25.07 percent, in Buleleng Regency reached 24.32 percent, an increase of 22.32 percent recorded from the previous month. While three other areas in Bali, Jembrana, Klungkung and Bangli have no star hotel facilities.

Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bali recorded there are 2,260 star-class hotels and non star with a capacity of 56.971 rooms in Bali. The hotel room is not including villa which existence has now spread in many rural and remote areas.