Hotel businesses survive Covid pandemic: President

HOTEL businesses in Port Moresby have managed to survive the year despite the impacts of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, according to the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Chamber president Rio Fiocco said hotel bookings were reasonable, with most hotels in the city had their employees fully vaccinated.
“Businesses have remained open but have had to limit people coming to restaurants,” Fiocco said.
He said hotels approved by the National Control Centre for quarantine purposes “have done reasonably well”.
“Since the change of the rules in November, less people are now required to stay in quarantine.
“But we are now getting a few more business travellers coming back to PNG and more domestic travel because of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Generally, hotel bookings were reasonable for the year.
“I won’t say great but reasonable. They managed to survive.
“Most of the hotels in Port Moresby managed to have their staff fully vaccinated.
“Some had 100 per cent vaccination but most had very high rates of vaccinated staff – in the 90 per cent range.”
Fiocco the year has been a very challenging year for businesses in Port Moresby and the country due to the ongoing pandemic.
He said businesses had adapted to the Niupla Pasin protocols, with restaurants and hotels forced to limit their capacity.