LOOKING at attracting more tourists and giving a boost to the local tourism sector, three Brunei ministries came together yesterday to launch the Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer National Heritage Tour packages in an auspicious ceremony held at the Dermaga Diraja in the capital.
The ambitious drive comprising eight novel initiatives was officiated by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs; Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; as well as Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
The packages that revolve around the heart of the capital and the Kampong Ayer are: Full Day City and Kampong Ayer Tour, Half Day City Tour, Kampong Ayer Tour, Sunset River Safari, Night City Tour, Heritage Drive, Bandar Seri Begawan Walking Tour and Proboscis Monkey Tour.
The launching of the new tour packages is part of the government’s continuous efforts to boost tourism industry following the introduction of the Temburong District tour packages on September 1, 2016 by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism through the Tourism Development Department.
Among the main objectives of the National Heritage Tour packages are to highlight the tourism products available in Kampong Ayer and Bandar Seri Begawan, add to the efforts of travel agents in promoting local tourism products within and outside the country, motivate travel agents to offer indicative prices and encourage local residents to travel more domestically, especially during school holidays.
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar in an interview lauded concerted initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to introduce the National Heritage Tour packages to promote Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer.
“The tours are very attractive and the launch of new packages is timely as Bandar Seri Begawan has been declared as the Asean City of Culture. We hope that with the cooperation of relevant agencies including from the private sector that are involved in tourism sector, we can promote Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer as the main attractions in the Sultanate to local and overseas tourists,” he said.
Hailing the drive, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi said, “This is a very good initiative in which three ministries have come together to boost the tourism sector. I am confident that through combined efforts, this move will bring benefits to all stakeholders of the local tourism industry.”
According to Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali, “The aim (of the ministries) is to provide well-organised tour packages for visitors, giving them clear information on the main attractions in Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer and a proper pricing for various packages.”
The Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism also unveiled the new Tourist Information Centre at the Dermaga Diraja in the capital yesterday.
The centre would provide visitors with detailed information about places of interest and tourist destinations in the country.
Meanwhile, to further enhance the attractiveness of Bandar Seri Begawan, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi launched the Heritage Trail Brunei Darussalam, a project by the Museums Department under Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, to preserve and enhance public awareness on the historical buildings and sites in Bandar Seri Begawan.
At yesterday’s ceremony, the Minister of Home Affairs opened the Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer National Heritage Exhibition which is participated by Village Consultative Councils (MPK), travel agents and tour operators with the main focus on selling Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer travel packages.
The exhibition and sale of tourism products is open to the public from 7.30am to 5pm and will continue until Sunday.
Before concluding the ceremony, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Minister of Communications joined the other three ministers and invited guests on board MV Sentosa for a one-hour river cruise around Kampong Ayer.
The guests also had the opportunity to view the exhibition ‘Bandar Seri Begawan: Asean City of Culture’.
Also on display are arts and cultural activities in Bandar Seri Begawan as well as paintings from the collection of the Museums Department and local artists.
To further enliven the launch of the tour packages, the Ministry of Home Affairs through the BSB Municipal Department and the Brunei-Muara District Department will host numerous activities today including games and performances at the Dermaga Diraja.
There will be a traditional boat race organised by the MPK of Kota Batu, Pintu Malim, Sungai Lampai, Mukim Kota Batu today at the Brunei River.
In addition, recreational sport events will be held at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien as part of the Bandarku Ceria activities.
