T

he upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays will be a blessing for car rental businesses in Yogyakarta, while budget hotels in Bali are fully booked.

Demands for rental cars have significantly increased, leading to higher rental fees up to Rp 100,000 (US$8.21) per unit per day.

'€œIn line with the law of markets, when there is increasing demand then there will also be increasing price,'€ Suyono, a manager of Aselia Rent Car in Panggungharjo, Sewon, Bantul regency, said on Wednesday.

He said 24 of 64 rental cars under his management had been booked. He was upbeat that in two days all the cars would be booked as there had been many inquiries but no deals as yet.

He said his confidence was based on the fact that on weekends, between 20 to 30 cars were booked while on long weekends all of them were normally booked.

'€œEvery New Year, Christmas and Lebaran we always have difficulty meeting orders because of increasing demand,'€ said Suyono.

Another car rental manager, Suharjono from Wonosari, Gunungkidul regency, said almost all car rental businesses in the region increased rental fees due to increasing demand.

Normally, a Toyota Avanza '€” multipurpose vehicle (MPV) '€” is rented for Rp 250,000 per day but during Christmas and New Year holidays the fee is between Rp 300,000 and Rp 350,000 per day.

The normal rental fee of a New Avanza is Rp 300,000 per day and reaches Rp 350,000 during holidays. A new Kijang Innova rental fee has increased from Rp 450,000 to Rp 550,000 per unit.

'€œMPVs have become a favorite among customers because of its bigger capacity,'€ said Suharjono, adding most customers were families holidaying in Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta has over 100 rental car businesses with a combined fleet of some 4,000 cars.

Suharjono said the figure excluded cars rented individually by locals to their relatives or colleagues
during holiday seasons.

To help ease mobility during the holidays, state-owned railway operator PT KAI Operational Region (Daop) VI Yogyakarta will launch the Sidomukti train serving the Yogyakarta-Solo Balapan routes on Dec. 15, 22, 25, 26 and 29.

Meanwhile, the Yogyakarta branch of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) has prepared 100 buses as a backup.

In Bali, some budget hotels in Denpasar and Kuta have been fully booked by local guests planning to enjoy their holidays.

Most domestic tourists are predicted to start heading to the island next week, as hotels are fully booked from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2.

Kodja Beach Inn in Kuta is a budget hotel that will enjoy a 100 percent occupancy rate during the period, with most guests domestic family tourists.

'€œAll our 27 rooms have been fully booked for Dec. 25 until Jan. 1. I think most hotels in Kuta will also be fully occupied,'€ said Yuli, a member of staff at the hotel on Jl. Pantai Kuta.

She said the hotel was enjoying an occupancy rate of over 70 percent.

During this holiday season, the hotel will apply higher room rates of Rp 500,000 per night for standard rooms and Rp 850,000 for deluxe rooms.

On normal days, the rate is Rp 350,000 for a standard room and Rp 450,000 for a deluxe room.

In peak season, the hotel still enjoys a 100 percent occupancy rate, despite the mushrooming new budget hotels offering more modern amenities but with the same price.

'€œMost of our guests are repeat customers. They find it convenient staying,'€ Yuli said.

Budget hotels remain a choice for middle-class domestic tourists visiting Bali. Besides tourists coming with their families and friends, there are also groups of high school students from Java visiting the island on buses.

Budget hotels located in the downtown area of Denpasar have also been fully booked.