Lyna Mohamad
The public welcomed the recent announcement made by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar on a revised fee for the COVID-19 swab test on foreigners entering Brunei Darussalam.
“With the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Ministry of Health (MoH) would like to inform the public on the reduction of the charges for the RT-6 PCR COVID-19 swab test imposed on foreigners that have been granted permission to enter the country from BND1,000 to BND350,” the minister said.
Director of Operations at Mulia Hotel Mohd Iswandi bin Maaruf, who is also President of the Brunei Association of Hotels (BAH), said, “It is a good initiative; business and corporate travellers can resume travelling into the country and filling up the hotel rooms again.”
As the hotel sector is among the hardest hit sectors amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he believes that the revised fee is a boon to the revival of hospitality and tourism industries.
Meanwhile, The Brunei Hotel General Manager Andy Goh said the reduced price on swab test is a good move as it encourages travellers to consider entering Brunei, thus improving the outlook of the hospitality industry.
“Of course, we still hope a vaccine will be found soon as most hotels and in-bound travel agents, as well as airline operators are dependent on tourist arrivals,” he added.
Meanwhile, Danial, a Malaysian in business partnership with a local, applauded the move and said the previous price of swab testing put a lot of financial burden on businesses. Now that it’s been revised, he believes the business sector is letting out a collective sigh of relief.
A family member of an expatriate, whose husband is currently working at an established firms in the country, also expressed her gratitude to the government for the price reduction as it means her children, who are currently studying abroad can visit during semester breaks.
“I think most of us expats were relieved when we heard the announcement made by the minister,” she said. “It gives us all the more reason to be thankful and appreciative of the opportunity to live in this Abode of Peace for many years.”