With strategically-located accommodations equipped with new facilities, rest houses across the Sultanate are now less utilised by the public, especially officers working outside their districts.
Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Haji Mohd Salleh bin Haji Othman highlighted this on the fifth day of the 20th session of the LegCo meeting yesterday.
The LegCo member also suggested promoting guest houses as an option for the public and implementing rebranding strategies with stakeholders, such as local councils, to serve as a basis for entrepreneurial programmes.
In response to the suggestion and issues by Yang Berhormat Haji Mohd Salleh, Minister of Home Affairs Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman explained that rest houses are provided by district offices as a subsidy to the public and government officers for accommodation.
The minister believes that the declining popularity of guesthouse as an accommodation option is due to competition from hotels and similar establishments.
“A total of 12 community halls have been refurbished. The refurbishment is prioritised based on needs.
“There is already a list of halls slated for refurbishment,” said the minister, when asked by Yang Berhormat Haji Mohd Salleh on the refurbishment of community halls. – Adib Noor
