Thailand
Brunei a growing tourism destination
BRUNEI Darussalam has seen some notable developments recently in the tourism sector.
According to a recent study conducted on the global MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events), business and luxury travel industry, Brunei is fast emerging as a major tourism and hospitality destination that could soon overtake several developed markets.
The survey, carried out by event management company QnA International, was conducted on the global MICE, business and luxury travel industry revealed insights on industry trends and challenges, emerging global destinations and emerging trends and challenges within the industry.
Participants of the survey were asked to identify emerging destinations that could overtake developed markets as a tourism and hospitality destination. Among the destinations identified as upcoming MICE hot spots were: Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Siberia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Monaco, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Russia, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Over 300 experts responsible for organising MICE, business and luxury travel took the survey to gauge popular, emerging global destinations and emerging trends and challenges within the industry.
In May last year, Brunei was named the 13th best destination across the globe for Muslim travellers in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries.
Brunei scored full marks (100) in safety aspect and prayer space access and gained 90 marks in dining options in the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) for 2017, which covered 130 destinations globally.
According to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism tourist arrivals to Brunei has increased by 10 per cent towards the end of 2017, compared to 0.3 per cent in 2016.
Statistics provided by the Tourism Development Department show that the total number international tourists that arrived in the country through the Brunei International Airport (BIA) in the second quarter of 2017 reached 65,747 compared to 52,292 tourists in the same period last year, recording a 25.7 per cent year-on-year growth.
The increase is mainly attributed to the consistently high travel demand from the main market areas since the first quarter of 2017 coupled with increased air connectivity due to chartered flights from the Far East market, improved travel facilitation and a modest global economic recovery despite tough regional competition from neighbouring countries.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, complimented Brunei’s achievements in the tourism sector in his New Year’s Eve speech during the Appreciation Night for the Brunei December Festival 2017, at The Empire Hotel & Country Club.
Summarising some of the main initiatives of 2017, he said, “This year, the Brunei Tourism Board launched the Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer Heritage Trails. We also promoted the Tutong Destination Packages the Belait Destination Packages, and launched the Brunei Diving Packages.”
“I am proud that we successfully organised a calendar filled with exciting events of every category, which included the Brunei Gastronomy Week, the Arts Affair and the Brunei December Festival which offers various events such as an International Food Festival and various religious, cultural and fun-filled activities.”
For 2018, the minister suggested for more signature and international-level events to attract visitors. “Stay imaginative and creative for Brunei’s tourism industry,” he advised.
The minister then paid tribute to the event organisers for the Brunei December Festival 2017, saying, “There are some events which are still ongoing until the middle of January 2018, such as the ‘Pameran Cinta dan Kenali Rasulullah SAW exhibition at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas, which is organised by Avertu Management Services; the Brunei Water Festival, organised by Heroes Event Management; the Photography Competition, organised by Politeknik Brunei; and the Brunei Salebration, organised by the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE).”
The minister also spoke on some of the recent attractions of the Brunei December Festival, highlighting the 2nd Green Jewel Night Run, organised by the CARE organisation, with more than 500 participants, including several runners from Norway, Columbia and Morocco.
“Around 50 international participants joined the Brunei Off Road Challenge organised by the Four Wheel Drive Association of Brunei Darussalam, with 43 international participants in the Temburong edition of the Mountain Trail Bike Challenge,” he said.
“An indigenous cultural performing artist, Matthew Doyle, was brought in by the Australian High Commission, to perform with our ethnic communities,” the minister added. A renowned chef, William Wongso, was brought in by the Indonesian Embassy and The Rizqun International Hotel, during the ‘Magnificent Culinary of Indonesia’.
There were some participants from Asean for the Motorcross Challenge, organised by the United Youth Volunteer Movement (GPPS) in Tutong, well as the Tutong Boat Race at the ‘Pesta Santai’, organised by the Village Consultative Council (MPK) of Kampong Penabai in Kuala Tutong.
“There were several events that gained popularity and attracted huge crowds at the ‘Bangarku Ceria’, ‘Tutongku Ceria’, ‘KBku Ceria’ and ‘Bandarku Ceria’, such as archery organised by Ar-Rafi Archery; paintball shooting organised by the Royal Brunei Technical Services; and the Nyirik Culinary Challenge, organised by Eco Kampong and Eco Ponies; and where some cooking enthusiasts competed to show their cooking skills.”
Source: http://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-a-growing-tourism-destination/