BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei has officially launched Nakhoda, a digital tourism platform designed to make it easier for travellers to plan and book experiences ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027.
The platform was unveiled on Monday by Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Dato Dr Hj Abdul Manaf Hj Metussin, during the Nakhoda Compass 2026 event.
Developed through a partnership between Dynamik Technologies and the Tourism Development Department, Nakhoda is a digital marketplace for local operators to list travel services, offer bookable packages, and accept cashless payments.
It also features an AI-powered trip planner that creates personalised itineraries based on travellers’ interests and budgets.
Speaking at the launch event, Acting Director of Tourism Development Hjh Salinah Hj Mohd Salleh noted that while Bruneians have embraced digitalisation, the tourism sector remains fragmented due to disconnected information, limited online sales channels and a lack of integrated tourism data. Small tourism operators also contend with a digital divide, leaving them with inconsistent online visibility.
“Our challenge is not to create more attractions, but to ensure that our tourism products are available online,” she said, adding that Nakhoda was designed to bridge this digital gap.
This digital push comes at a crucial time as Brunei’s tourism sector sees strong upward momentum.
According to the latest government data, visitor arrivals rose 12.6% year-on-year, climbing from 678,037 in 2024 to 763,375 in 2025.
This growth continued into 2026, with the sultanate welcoming 217,453 visitors in the first quarter alone.
Looking ahead, the Tourism Development Department aims to leverage digital tools like Nakhoda to achieve its growth targets, aiming for 854,855 arrivals this year, 901,048 in 2027, and over 1.4 million by 2035.
Nakhoda will also provide valuable data insights across the tourism sector, said Dynamik Technologies Interim Chief Executive Officer, Pg Noreen Afiza Pg Dato Paduka Hj Md Zain.
“Historically, a nakhoda was the captain who guided our vessels across the seas. It is in that same spirit that Nakhoda is built: to guide and connect our tourism ecosystem”.