Azlan Othman
A training programme on the ‘Role of Clean and Hygienic Publics Toilets’ in Brunei Darussalam’s tourism industry provided knowledge and awareness to stakeholders on public toilet hygiene and effective toilet cleaning procedures using best practices recently.
The training encouraged the participants to reduce pollution and maintain a cleaner, more hygienic and safer public toilet environment, especially in the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) through the Tourism Development Department, in collaboration with SEAMEO Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO Voctech) organised the four-part training.
The training was given to restaurants, shopping malls, checkpoints, markets, guest houses and beaches. Sixty-one participants comprising owners, managers, supervisors and government employees attended the training.
SEAMEO Voctech Training and Professional Development Manager Norhayati Cynthia binti Abdullah conducted the theory and practical classes.
Participants also learnt how to manage toilets more effectively as well as practise proper water management and waste disposal to ensure that the equipment and facilities are appropriate while having specialised manpower to operate toilets.
Participants also visited the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex and Brunei International Airport, which feature model toilets assessed with Grade ‘A’ as a result of toilet audits conducted by the Standards and Compliance Unit at the Tourism Development Department.
Last year, the Tourism Development Department conducted a continuous audit of 58 public toilets throughout the country and conducted a grading assessment.
Auditing and scoring are divided into four categories – design and environmental management system; amenities and facilities; cleanliness; and safety – guided by the Audit Checklist of ASEAN Public Toilet Standard. Out of 58 public toilets audited, 28 were assessed Grade ‘A’ and ‘B’ while 30 were assessed Grade ‘C’ and below.