| James Kon In Singapore |
THE Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Freme Travel Services Sdn Bhd, Orchid Garden Hotel, The Empire Hotel & Country Club and Royal Brunei Airlines are showcasing their packages and travel attractions of the Sultanate at the TRAVEX 2017 held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore from January 18-21.
Apart from attracting the attention of travel agents and hoteliers, the Brunei Pavilion received a tour from the guest of honour, Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary under Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore, who launched the TRAVEX 2017.
With some 500 exhibition booths and 1,600 delegates, TRAVEX 2017 is a one-stop avenue for the latest in Asean tourism products and services. Additionally, TRAVEX offers great networking opportunities and is the place to gain insights into Asean tourism trends.
It also offers a meeting place for both Asean-based sellers and travel buyers from around the world.
This is the eighth time that Orchid Garden Hotel is participating in TRAVEX which started in 2008 in Bangkok. The main objectives for the participation are to create and increase awareness on what Brunei has to offer and to strengthen cooperation among the various sectors of Asean tourism industry.
Brunei’s Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong is currently in Singapore to attend the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) which is the most significant annual tourism promotional event in Asia that is hosted on a rotational basis among the member countries of Asean.
Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary under Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore, with the Brunei delegation at TRAVEX. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
Low Yen Ling takes a closer look at the Brunei Tourism logo.
Singapore is hosting ATF 2017, which includes The Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), Asean Tourism Conference (ATC), Asean National Tourism Organisation (NTOs), Asean Tourism Ministers Meetings, Meetings of the Three Asean Travel Trade Associations.
The theme for ATF 2017 ‘Shaping our Tourism Journey Together’ truly reflects the unique range of tourism products and services offered by the region.
With the strong leadership and initiative from the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, several Request for Proposal (RFP) projects are in the pipeline. In the Brunei-Muara District the projects are Berakas Forest Reserve Recreational Park, Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery and the designated area at Kampong Lorong Sikuna and Eco-Tourism site Sibonghutan at Kampong Tanah Jambu.
In the Belait District, the project is Luagan Lalak facilities. In the Tutong District, the projects are Sungai Basong Recreational Park and Seri Kenangan Beach. In the Temburong District, the projects are public facilities and in Batang Duri.
The Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism is also working closely together with several government agencies to assist the tourism industry – such as on visa matters, the Tourism Information Centre which has been set up in Bandar Seri Begawan, and the establishment of Brunei Tourism Board (BTB), which is an important platform for the ministry to communicate with stakeholders both in the government and private sectors.
The immediate strategic focus is on product development and product upgrade, which indentifies three categories of tourism products, namely the ‘primary products,’ ‘emerging products’ and ‘activity-based tourism products.’
The authorities are also organising the ‘Brunei Gastronomy Week’ from February 22-26, in conjunction with the 33rd National Day of Brunei Darussalam, where participating restaurants will be promoting their own signature dishes.
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