Ramadan buffet packages receive encouraging response

KUALA LUMPUR: The response from Muslims, including from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and companies, towards Ramadan buffet packages this year has been encouraging despite price hikes.

In fact, most hotel operators and caterers said when contacted by Bernama that more than 50 per cent of the promotional price sales and early bookings of Ramadan buffets that opened two weeks ago have been sold out.

They admitted that the price of Ramadan buffets had to be increased due to rising operating costs and raw materials, but it was at a minimum and did not burden consumers while offering attractive and quality food choices.

World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur marketing communications director, Intan Tantiyana Puteri Jaafar said the sale of Ramadan buffet packages thus far was very encouraging compared to two years ago.

Intan said the selling price of the Ramadan buffet this year increased slightly, for example, the 'early bird' package for an adult was RM108 compared to RM98 last year, an increase of RM10.

"Demand for Ramadan buffets is still high, for example for the 'early bird' vouchers alone, half of the RM5,000 vouchers provided are already sold, and we expect more people to make reservations after the first week of fasting.

"Even during the second and third weeks of fasting last year with the strict standard operating procedures (SOP) and high number of COVID-19 cases, hall bookings were always full," she said when contacted by Bernama here today.

The media previously reported that the price of Ramadan buffets during the fasting month had increased by between 15 and 20 per cent following a rise in the price of raw materials and operating costs.

Intan also informed that the easing of the SOP by the authorities following the transition to the endemic phase also meant more companies dared to book Ramadan buffets.

Cloves Restaurant and Cafe managing director, Azuan Omar, said that despite the slight price increase, their restaurant provided added value by diversifying the breaking of breaking fast menu as well as providing a live band for customers.

"Thus far, we are 50 to 60 per cent booked for some days during the fasting month, and God willing, during Ramadan the bookings will be full," he said, adding that the premises can accommodate about 250 people at a time.

A spokesperson for Ikhwan Kafe and Bakeri Subang, Nurul Azni Jalilah, said that they also received many Ramadan buffet orders in the form of sponsorship from various companies for orphans to break their fast.

Meanwhile, executive officer, Saidatina Salwani Mohd Jasni, 30, thinks the increase in the price of Ramadan buffets is not a big problem for her because she understands that the price of raw materials has risen.

"The price is still reasonable with the current situation. I also don't take expensive Ramadan buffet packages, just according to my affordability.

"Before COVID-19, my family and I always break fast at a hotel, but this time due to the still high infectivity of cases, we don't do so as often," she said.

-- BERNAMA