TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- Year-end holidays will come soon, which means hotels will reap profits from tourist visits. Besides Christmas and New Year holidays, schools will also be on semester break.

The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) chairman Asnawi Bahar suggested Tuesday, November 24, that it is better to book transportation and accommodation earlier as domestic and foreign tourists will show up.

Bahar said hotel occupancy rate in Indonesia will increase by 20 percent. Hotels in tourist areas will experience higher growth. “It’s hard to find a room in Bali and Lombok if not booked earlier,” he said.

About the price, Asnawi said hotels will not increase their tariff too high. Even if there were, it would only be around 10 percent. “There is already price standard, depending on the star levels,” he said.

Not only at home, tour packages overseas have also been booked for 2015’s year-end holiday. “Most of them go to South Korea and Japan,” said Agustinus Kasjaya Pake Seko from PT Direktur Bayu Buana.

Holiday packages to European countries are also still in great demand. Even Paris, which was recently shocked by terror attacks, is still popular. “Eiffer Tower is one of tourist attractions,” he said.

PINGIT ARIA