TOURISM arrivals to Brunei were up 27 per cent in 2010 with almost 200,000 visitors prompting authorities to aim for a further 20 per cent growth this year.
Those coming from the Asean nations of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam made up the largest group with 101,176 arrivals, up 30.9 per cent on 209.
Far Eastern visitors, including those from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan made up 31,755 arivals with those coming from Australia and New Zealand comprising 24,563.
Of long-haul travellers, the UK was the main market with 16,781 and the number of Middle Eastern visitors was 1,443 – approximately 120 per month.
According to Salinah Salleh of Brunei Tourism there are a number of new developments to look out for in 2011.
The Empire Hotel is undergoing extensive refurbishment, Brunei Hotel, the country’s oldest and most centrally located property will reopen this year as a boutique hotel, Royal Brunei Airlines has launched a route to Melbourne, making the country an ideal stopping off point for those heading to Australia, and Hong Kong passport holders can now enter Brunei without a visa.
Perhaps most interesting to Middle Eastern visitors is the plan for a joint promotion between the tourism authority and Darussalam Holdings, a Brunei-based tour operator, to offer an Islamic-themed three-night, four-day package in which visitors will have the chance to explore the country’s rich Islamic heritage, monuments and collection of Islamic artifacts.
Another major attraction for the region’s travellers is diving with Salleh pointing out: “Brunei waters are rich in marine biodiversity, natural and artificial coral reefs and are dotted with a number of shipwrecks.
“There is relatively little fishing in Brunei waters, resulting in many dive sites still in pristine condition and still mostly unknown to the diving community at large. A number of certified professional diving outfits are now offering dive tours to foreign divers, who’ve been raving about the wrecks, reefs, macro photography and muck diving possibilities.”
Brunei is also well known for its eco-tourism and sustainable travel practices and the country’s tourism authority works together with a number of villages and communities to promote Homestay Programmes which have developed as a means to preserve and showcase heritage and traditions while also contributing economically to the communities, helping develop SMEs, creating a business mindset among the villagers and offering opportunities for the youth to stay in the villages and lessen rural/urban migration.
Visitors have a choice between Homestay Programmes in a fishing village environment, in the rice farming areas or on the fringes of the rainforest, with both Malay and Borneo native communities.
Activities offered include fishing, rice farming, collecting jungle produce, learning traditions and games, taking part in a mock wedding, exploring the surrounding nature or just enjoying the villagers’ sincere hospitality.