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Officials of The Westin Dhaka said after the withdrawal of the lockdown the number of guests has increased and occupancy rate had reached around 40 per cent at the moment.

They said around 80 per cent of guests were foreigners on business travel while another 20 per cent were locals and guests quarantining on returning from abroad.

They were hopeful of a gradual improvement in business and of achieving pre-pandemic figures once the population was completely vaccinated.

Zillur Haider Arefin, assistant general manager of Seagull Hotel in Cox’s Bazar, said they could rent out only 50 per cent of their 179 rooms due to restrictions of the local authority citing health safety grounds.

However, he said the occupancy rate during weekends was reaching around 55 per cent.