Most hotels in Johor fully booked this CNY
JOHOR BARU: Many hotels in the state are seeing almost full occupancy this Chinese New Year.
Many overseas visitors, especially South Koreans, are taking the opportunity to escape the winter and celebrate the Lunar New Year, known as Seollal back home, in Malaysia.
Tanjung Puteri Golf Resort events and promotions manager Magdelene Err said besides soaking up the sun, the South Koreans are also enjoying themselves by playing golf.
“During the winter months, many golfers will come to South-East Asian countries to play,” she said.
Err said many South Koreans are also making a beeline for the facto- ry outlet in Kulai as well as theme parks in Iskandar Puteri.
Chinese New Year bookings for the resort, she added, started from as early as November, mostly by Singaporeans on a short break or visiting relatives in the state.
Puteri Pacific and Persada Johor International Convention Centre sales director Joyce Yap said during festive holidays, occupancy rate could hit more than 80% for hotels in the city.
“Most of our guests are locals from outside Johor and Singaporeans,” she said.
Yap said while Malaysians would go over to Singapore, many still preferred to stay in Johor Baru.
“Room rates in Johor Baru are more affordable compared to Singapore where guests have to fork out about S$300 (RM891.96) per night for a four-star hotel,” she said.
Mutiara Hotel Johor Baru marketing and communications mana- ger Lily Tham said 20% of its guests were from Singapore, 20% from China while the rest were locals.
“We see more guests from China during Chinese New Year in recent years as many of them take advantage of the holidays to travel,” she said.