JOHOR BARU: Budget hotels located in districts such as Batu Pahat, Kluang and Muar are seeing good occupancy during Hari Raya, says Malaysia Budget Hotels Association Johor chapter chairman Jarod Chia.
This is because many people, in particular those celebrating Hari Raya, want a place not too far from their kampung, he said.
“We experienced something similar during the recent Chinese New Year celebrations whereby the bookings were made by those who wanted to be near their loved ones in their kampung,” he said.
With Hari Raya just a couple of weeks away, Chia said budget hotel operators are expecting a surge in bookings.
“Normally, people would have already made their bookings but we expect some last-minute ones as well,” he said.
He said there are 246 budget hotels in the state, providing 9,840 rooms.
“With the school holiday starting soon in Singapore and Hari Raya celebrations not far off, we expect to see more requests for hotel rooms,” he said.
Johor Homestay Association secretary Zainoh Musa said people celebrating Hari Raya have already made early bookings to avoid last-minute hassles.
“Most of our members offering homestay or kampung stay have been booked months before Ramadan,” he said, adding that a majority of them are those with large families.
These families, he said, wanted their own private space while staying near their kampung.
Zainoh said the prices for a homestay or kampung stay around Johor ranged from RM200 to RM380 a night, depending on the amenities provided.
“The kampung stay has become quite popular not only during Hari Raya but throughout the year, in particular when there is a kenduri or a wedding,” he said.
