TravelMole recently spoke with Mrs Mariani Binti Haji Sabtu, Acting Director of Tourism Development to discuss the country’s progress since the 2013 roll out of the Brunei Tourism Master Plan.
Underpinning the Master Plan is a focus on nature and culture and Islamic heritage, Mrs Mariana said.
It features a total of 69 separate projects, and ambitious targets have been set.
"Our aim is for a 50% increase in visitor spending (18% CAGR); 27% increase in visitor arrivals; 53% increase in investment and 38% increase in tourism-related employment by 2016," she said.
Effort, time and funding is required to meet these goals, although it is hoped some projects can be rolled out quickly.
Mrs Mariana said the Tourism Development Department has been working closely with District Offices and the Village Councils to develop authentic community based tourism which includes homestay accommodation.
She says the main source markets for inbound tourism is ASEAN at 54% of total arrivals, followed by the Far East markets of China, Korea and Japan at 19%.
"Most notable was a twelve-fold increase from the Middle-East, West and Central Asia compared to last year, which was fueled mainly by increased numbers from India."
Brunei’s cultural heritage is also a major element of its tourism promotional efforts.
The Brunei Islamic Tourism and Grand Mosques app was launched last summer, showcasing its rich Islamic heritage, with descriptions for 14 of Brunei’s most notable mosques, a halal food guide and insightful tips on sighs, museums, accommodation and local transport.
Mrs Mariana also gave an update on Brunei’s small but growing cruise market.
"As we expand our marketing and promotion efforts, as well as providing quality packages, plus the increased number of new ports being built and ships that are deployed in Asia, it is foreseen that the number of calls will increase. "
