BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei is targeting tourist arrivals to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2024, as the number of visitors more than doubled last year.
During the Legislative Council (LegCo) proceedings on Tuesday, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Dr Hj Abd Manaf Hj Metussin said tourist arrivals rose from 35,701 in 2022 to 133,360 last year.
However, LegCo member Pehin Dato Hj Abd Rahman Hj Ibrahim said the 2024 target on tourist arrivals was set too low at 362,565.
MPRT is also looking to attract 552,733 tourists by 2029, but Pehin Dato Hj Abd Rahman said the targets need to be reviewed and improved.
Noting that tourism was identified as one of the five priority sectors in diversifying Brunei’s economy, he said the tourism targets are far below the figures of neighbouring countries.
Malaysia has set its sights on 27.3 million tourist arrivals, while Singapore expects to welcome about 15 million visitors this year.
Brunei experienced an upward trend in tourist arrivals for three years before COVID-19 hit, recording its highest number of visitors of 333,240 in 2019.
In response to Pehin Dato Hj Abd Rahman, the MPRT minister said the priority of the tourism targets is to reach pre-pandemic levels this year.
“If we can achieve the number of tourists to pre-COVID levels, I think that is a positive thing. This target is dynamic, we will review whether there are other initiatives that will cause a big impact.
“We are focusing on promoting medical tourism, education tourism and Islamic tourism,” he added.
Delivering his budget speech, the minister said $7.32 million has been allocated for tourism development projects over a five-year period.
Under the 12th National Development Plan, projects for the tourism sector include the $1.58 million upgrade of Temburong’s Pulau Selirong Forest Recreation Park and $1.36 million to refurbish the Kampong Ayer Culture and Tourism Gallery.
Another $3 million has been set aside for improving facilities at tourist attractions, including the construction of jetties along the Brunei River, Sungai Kedayan and Sungai Menglait for river cruise activities.
About $1 million will be spent on improving the quality of the tourism industry, such as capacity building and meeting green tourism standards.
Dato Dr Hj Abd Manaf further said the drafting of the Tourism Industry Roadmap is in the final stages. The roadmap will outline short, medium, and long-term plans to develop Brunei’s tourism industry.
A steering committee involving a number of government agencies will be established to coordinate and implement tourism strategies once the roadmap has been completed.