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BUSINESS SECTORS
MPRT and the Brunei Tourism Board, through
the Tourism Development Department, Selera
Bruneiku is a food journey of delicacies at
participating restaurants and destinations in
all four districts. The initiative also includes a
range of cultural and sporting activities such as
handicraft-making, trekking and river cruise.
To ensure the health and safety standards of the
offerings are observed at all times, the Tourism
Development Department conducts inspections
and spot checks at restaurants, public restrooms
and places of interest, in addition to monitoring
the quality of services.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Primary
Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang
Haji Ali bin Apong said, “In promoting domestic
tourism, the MPRT, in collaboration with other
government agencies and travel agents, are
continuously working to ensure that measures
to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are adhered
to; this includes body temperature checks, hand
washing and social or physical distancing.
“The level of safety, cleanliness and comfort
of visitors is also always emphasised when
handling tourism activities.”
The minister expressed hope that the
campaign would ensure business continuity
for entrepreneurs, together with employment
in the local tourism industry. “The availability
of new products or bespoke travel packages
can generally open up many employment and
business opportunities for the local people.”
“According to statistics received by the
Tourism Development Department, over
100 local personnel have been provided
employment
opportunities
with
these
domestic tourism packages.”
“The Tourism Development Department has
held joint consultations with hotels, local
travel agents, tourism service providers,
village consultative councils (MPKs) and
government agencies, such as district offices,
to make the domestic tourism packages a
success,” he said.
He added that in accordance with the Malay
Islamic Monarchy (MIB) concept, the MPRT
has incorporated Islamic values as part of
their customer service training in the ways to
treat guests as customers and tourists visiting
the country.
To adapt to the unprecedented challenges
brought on by the pandemic, national carrier
Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) also innovated and
came up with the ‘RB Dine & Fly’, a sightseeing
flight experience.
The product is a full-service 85-minute flight with
a live commentary by the pilot and crew around
the coast and borders of Brunei Darussalam and
other parts of Borneo inclusive of a brunch meal
served on board. The first RB Dine & Fly flight
took off on August 16, 2020.
Ecotourism
With over 70 per cent of the land in Brunei
Darussalam covered in pristine jungle, there
are many different hiking trails to explore and
disconnect from the world. Bukit Sipatir is the
latest addition to Brunei’s popular hiking tracks,
officially launched on January 1, 2020.
In January 2020, two projects were signed
by the Tourism Development Department
under the MPRT: the Eco Resort project and
the development of a river centre at Kampong
Batang Duri.