| James Kon |
SEEKING to develop Brunei’s eco-tourism industry, with Temburong District as the main destination, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) has come up with new promotional packages which will be available from December.
The latest initiatives for the country’s eco-tourism industry were highlighted by Haji Md Zamree bin Haji Junaidi, the Director of Tourism Development under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, during a session titled, ‘Into the Forest: Opportunities for Eco-Tourism’, at the 2nd Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit held yesterday at the International Convention Centre (ICC).
Haji Md Zamree also gave the assurance that the move would not compromise the pristine condition of Brunei’s rainforests.
During the question-and-answer session, he said, “According to statistics, around 10,000 individuals visit Temburong in a year. This is quite a big number for Brunei. We hope to increase the numbers, and at the same time we also want to conserve our forests. Brunei’s eco-tourism is being assisted by local industries that are eager to expand their business, and at the same time conserving the forests as a way of life.”
In terms of policy, he said, “We are delighted to have the ministry promoting Temburong as our eco-tourism destination, and coming up with new visitors’ packages in December. The new packages are designed to attract Bruneians, as well as foreign visitors.”
Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the MPRT attending the ‘Into the Forest: Opportunities for Eco-Tourism’ session at the 2nd Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit held yesterday. – JAMES KON
In response to a question on marketing methods, Haji Md Zamree replied, “Since our eco-tourism industry is still at an early stage, we are currently promoting it at home, and we hope to promote it on the international market. We are currently holding discussions in Temburong with local tour operators, as well as other stakeholders. With increased marketing efforts, we hope to generate more interest.”
On the issue of sustainability, he said, “This is a big issue, and it also poses difficulties for eco-tourism. We need to achieve a balance, where we can look at our capabilities and conservation efforts.”
When asked what tourists thought of Brunei, he replied, “We had a survey done by our department and another by the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS). From the initial findings, we saw that the local tourist industry revolves around hotels, food and drink, as well as transportation, which are big issues that we constantly need to take on and improve.”
Diana Cheong, a chief researcher at CSPS, said that a survey done last year showed that the general view of tourists towards Brunei was favourable, except for public conveniences such as toilets and transportation. In addition, they asked for more leisure and recreational activities to be staged in Brunei, apart from sightseeing.
The session also featured talks by Leslie Chiang, the founder of Sumbiling Eco Village and Dayangku Kemariah binti Pengiran Haji Duraman, the owner of Kunyit 7 Lodge, about their respective businesses and roles in promoting eco-tourism in Brunei.
There was also a talk by Marizal Saraan, the Senior Programme Manager of the Foundation for Sumatran Orangutan Conservation, on the need for a balance between conservation and eco-tourism.
Present during the talks were Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the MPRT, and several other officials.
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