An interim financial statement for Blantyre Hotels Limited has shown a 12% drop in profit for the six months period ended March 31, 2020.

BHL Chairman, Vizenge Kumwenda, shows that profit for the hospitality firm went down to K1.74 billion compared to K1.99 billion recorded during similar time last year, as the drop is  attributed to reduced travel due to the political environment and travel restrictions as a precautionary measures against the coronavirus. “The closure of Chileka International Airport in the last half of the year had also a negative impact on business from our foreign guests.” says part of the statement, “This as well as the Covid-19 pandemic brought by travel restrictions, impacted the business.”

Looking forward, BHL expects a tough business environment for the next 6 months, while announcing that the Ryalls Hotel is now open and we are observing all necessary protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Blantyre Hotels Limited Managing Director, David Church, said the hotel has since introduced local dishes on its menu to enhance its restaurant business. “We have three Malawian dishes that will be changing daily that we never focused on before, we will also continue with the tradition of the 21 Grill so we will have two or three great choices, so what we are doing mainly is combining the local and international dishes on our menu.”