At least six more new hotels expected to open in Kuching, says association chairman
KUCHING (Sept 8): At least six more new hotels are expected to open in Kuching in the near future, including three international chain hotels, said Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Sarawak chapter chairman John Teo.
Teo remarked that there are currently 48 star-rated hotels with 6,626 rooms available in Kuching, along with another 45 budget inns or motels with 1,694 rooms, contributing to a total of 8,320 rooms in Kuching.
“With the extension of Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) 2nd phase doubling the present BCCK capacity, we should be looking at BCCK (being) able to accommodate up to 10,000 guests by 2027,” he said in a statement.
He pointed out the current year-to-date average occupancy rate in Kuching stands at 63 per cent, with the highest rate at 92 per cent and lowest at 33 per cent.
As for Miri, he said there are a total of 23 star-rated hotels offering 3,599 rooms and another 95 budget inns or motels providing 2,301 rooms, with a total of about 6,000 rooms available for bookings at any one time.
The year-to-date occupancy rate in Miri stands at 55 per cent on average, and upcoming new hotels include City Rise Hotel and Eastwood Golf and Resort by 2024, he added.
“The main tourists in Miri are still Bruneian, followed by local Malaysians, Singaporeans, Chinese from China, Taiwanese, Koreans, Japanese and small percentage of Australians and Europeans.”
In Bintulu, Teo said there are 46 star-rated hotels with 3,861 rooms and another 18 budget inns or motels with 660 rooms.
He explained that most of the rooms in Bintulu are occupied by long- and short-term visitors working in the industrial and oil and gas industries, achieving an occupancy rate of between 72 and 95 per cent.
“We do hope to see more hotels coming up in Bintulu as there are many more new projects coming up, especially around Samalaju area.”
Lastly, Teo said there are 18 star-rated hotels in Sibu offering 1,716 rooms and over 20 budget inns or motels with 1,091 rooms, achieving an occupancy rate of between 30 and 46 per cent. The rooms are usually booked by domestic visitors on business around Sarawak.
He also mentioned that the ongoing Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) fair happening in Kuala Lumpur is actively promoting Sabah and Sarawak as gateways to Borneo, with both states having their own pavilions to showcase places of interests and their tourism products.
-Agency
