Journalists flock to hotels in Pakistan

International journalists are filling Pakistan's hotels in anticipation of repercussions from last week's terrorist atrocities in America.

The Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar is 250km from the border with Afghanistan, where US reprisal attacks are anticipated. Front of house manager Abbas Khan said the 148-bedroom hotel was fully booked by tourists, and journalists travelling to the border daily.

He said the situation at the border was "confusing," but played down any cause for worry despite escalating tension between Pakistan and its neighbour.

About 500km east in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, Haider Raza, senior sales manager of the 290-bedroom Marriott hotel, said: "Mostly we have international journalists as well as our regular clientele. We are the only five-star hotel in Islamabad and always run high occupancies. We shall be fully booked for the next month."

Raza said that there were "mixed emotions, mixed feelings", over Pakistan's politically sensitive position, but denied that there was any fear of the consequences of a US attack on Afghanistan.

He added that the hotel was in a safe location on the Aga Khan road near the presidential palace. "Security is very good," he said.

by Ben Walker

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper, 20-26 September 2001