Brunei Darussalam has gradually built infrastructure to make tourist attractions more accessible. Incorporating the abundance of nature, several superstructures have been planned and built to stimulate domestic businesses and diversify tourism products. Brunei Darussalam is endowed with rich natural tropical rainforests and non-urban communities. Although cities offer cultural and heritage resources for tourist activities, nature and community-based tourism will be future areas of focus. Beyond issues related to infrastructure and connectivity, Brunei Darussalam could become more competitive if it can successfully identify and develop unique experiences in these areas.
Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2023
Reviving Tourism Post-Pandemic
Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India
Brunei Darussalam
Source: OECD Development Centre based on data from UNWTO (2022), “Global and regional tourism performance” (database), UN World Tourism Organization, https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/global-and-regional-tourism-performance (accessed on 26 November 2022) and WTTC (2022), “Brunei 2022 Annual Research: key highlights”, https://wttc.org/DesktopModules/MVC/FactSheets/pdf/704/79_20220613154804_Brunei2022_.pdf.
Introduction
Current situation and policy challenges
Key drivers that sustained tourism over the last two years were a government stimulus package for the tourism and hospitality sector and substantial tax relief to boost domestic tourism during the pandemic. One initiative was Selera Bruneiku, which promoted various cultural and nature activities centred on food tourism. Challenges included the need to quickly meet the high demand for domestic tourism; diversification of tour products; and close co-operation between organised communities with travel agents and tour operators. The promotion of community-based tourism (CBT) during the pandemic fostered growth of micro-enterprises and family businesses. In Brunei Darussalam, more than 30 CBT establishments operate as homestays, lodges, and cultural centres across the country (Noorashid and Chin, 2021). However, many of the communities and their leadership found it difficult to operate on fixed schedules and to set prices. These issues will eventually be resolved as communities and travel agencies negotiate their offerings, integrate operations and offer greater product variety to satisfy guests (Noorashid and Chin, 2021).
Brunei Darussalam’s long-term development plan, Wawasan Brunei 2035, aims to increase tourism through product diversification and by enhancing service quality (TDD, 2019). A key tourist attraction in Brunei Darussalam is nature. This, combined with community-based tourism, has the potential to attract international tourists who are conscious of sustainable practices and seek ecotourism activities. Places of interests such as Jerudong Park and Ulu Temburong National Park play an outsize role in attracting tourists, along with the Royal Regalia, Malay Technology and Maritime museums (TDD, 2020).
Community- and nature-based tourism
A critical area for tourism in Brunei Darussalam is the development of infrastructure. The recently opened Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge, a dual carriageway that is 30 kilometres long, will facilitate nature-based tourism. The bridge provides easier access to Borneo’s virgin forests for exploration and trekking, and allows day trips from greater Brunei to enjoy the ecosystems of the lowlands, with tree-top views from canopy walkways at the Ulu Temburong National Park. While travel opportunities are now enhanced for people and tourists from the Mura, Tutong and Belait districts, it is important that communities living around the natural sites be further integrated with the attractions and services so that small enterprises and micro businesses can be a balancing force for protecting and preserving natural environments. This is in addition to bringing social and economic benefits to communities at tourist sites (Mahmud, 2021).
Within the context of the nature parks, research suggests that greater co-operation among government agencies, as well as public-private partnerships (PPP), may answer the challenges faced by tour operators and tourists in relation to diversification of tourism products and cost effectiveness of services (Salleh, 2017). The government is attempting to kickstart tourism via CBT packages (Wong, 2022). This, plus nature-based tourism and promotion campaigns targeting a younger generation, might allow the country to increase tourist arrivals.
Brunei Darussalam’s tourism approach could focus on accessibility, continued CBT-enabling policies and diversification of product offering. Concerning accessibility, in addition to road connections, boat rides from greater Brunei to Ulu Temburong National Park could be enhanced. The boat rides offer tourists attractive sights of coastal lands and mangroves. Communities living along these waterways could offer cultural products and homestays for those who wish to reside in traditional village settings. Building more lodges along the waterways could also ease or prevent the building of resorts at the Temburong National Park itself.
Brunei Darussalam’s museums, from the Royal Regalia to the Malay Technology Museum, have a common theme that highlights the Malay kingdom’s cultural heritage and national progress as an element shared by ethnic communities in Indonesia and Malaysia. By introducing a museum circuit tour, Brunei Darussalam could showcase the fascinating and rich heritage of the Malay populations of Southeast Asia.
References
IMF (2022), “World Economic Outlook Database” (accessed October 2022).
Mahmud, R. (2021), “Tourism Adapts to New Challenges”, 3 March 2021, Borneo Bulletin, https://borneobulletin.com.bn/tourism-adapts-to-new-challenges/.
Noorashid, N. and W.L. Chin (2021), “Coping with COVID-19: The resilience and transformation of community-based tourism in Brunei Darussalam”, Sustainability, Vol. 13/15, https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/15/8618, pp. 8618–8646.
Salleh, S. (2017), “A One Nation Approach Towards Making Brunei Darussalam an Attractive World Tourist Destination”, policy paper, Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, https://www.jpa.gov.bn/Shared%20Documents/Kertas%20Kerja%20Projek%20Perkhidmatan%20Awam/A%20One%20Nation%20Approach%20Towards%20Making%20Brunei%20Darussalam%20an%20Attractive%20World%20Tourist%20Destination.pdf.
TDD (2020), Brunei Tourism Performance Report, 2019, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, http://tourism.gov.bn/SitePages/Statistic.aspx.
TDD (2019), Tourism Industry 2019: Towards Brunei Wawasan 2035, Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, http://www.tourism.gov.bn/Brochures%20Library/Tourism/Tourism%20Industry%20Briefing%202019_27082019_for%20website%20upload.pdf.
UNWTO (2022), “Global and regional tourism performance” (database), UN World Tourism Organization, https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/global-and-regional-tourism-performance (accessed on 26 November 2022).
Wong, A. (2022), “Brunei tourism launches packages to kickstart tourism in endemic phase”, 27 February 2022, Biz Brunei, https://www.bizbrunei.com/2022/02/brunei-tourism-launches-packages-to-kickstart-tourism-in-endemic-phase/.
WTTC (2022), “Brunei 2022 Annual Research: key highlights”, https://wttc.org/DesktopModules/MVC/FactSheets/pdf/704/79_20220613154804_Brunei2022_.pdf.