2006-10-01T01:33:00.000-07:00

Brunei Darussalam...

Brunei, officially the Sultanate of Brunei is small, prosperous, stable and peaceful oil rich Kingdom located on the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, East Malaysia.

THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

Structure

Although the tourism industry in this country still in the infant stages meaning still in the early of developing stages, there are a lot of changes experienced by the locals and tourists from time to time because Brunei can appeal mostly to those looking for peaceful, safe and family friendly vacations, yet easy to reach and to enjoy, and with a sufficient mix of nature, culture and leisure attractions to sustain a leisure purpose of visitor for several nights.

Nature of Holiday Experience

Type of holiday experienced that you can find in Brunei mostly are leisure.
Asides from seeking for peacefulness and relaxing experienced, tourist are enthusiastic for a new challenge of adventure. They can do mountain biking, jungle trekking, rock climbing, and diving to break in Brunei. They also will find a plenty to satisfy their passion here, easily, comfortable and at good value for money rates, either on a short trip or long stay vacation.

BRUNEI’S TOP TEN TOURIST ARRIVAL 2006

Malaysia - 47,126
United Kingdom/Ireland - 10,298
Singapore - 8,109
Thailand - 6,759
Greater China - 5,602
Australia - 3,360
New Zealand - 1,876
Japan - 1,602
German speaking - 1,584
Korea - 1,125

(taken from Brunei Tourism Board, MIPR 2006)

ACCOMMODATION & CATERING

Hotels plays an important role in tourism, not just in creating jobs and contributing to a stable economy but also to show hospitality, service and style to visitors, encouraging repeat visits which are so important to the success of tourism. After all, happy memories and word of mouth are the best public relations destinations can have.

Brunei’s hotels and service apartments range from three to five-star type establishment. All provide every type of comfort imaginable making a visitor’s stay an enjoyable and relaxing one. Regardless of whether the hotel is a three-star or a five-star establishment, most rooms in Brunei provide air-conditioned comfort, ensuite bathrooms, TV with remote controlled satellite programmes, direct dial telephones, a mini bar and tea and coffee making facilities. Some hotels even provide in-room internet access facilities as well. Some of the hotels especially located in front of the sea provide waterfront activities to make the visitor stays longer in Brunei Darussalam.

Catered…
The major hotels in Brunei offer special food service catered for the tourist in their staying in this country. Some they catered especially at social event. They provide a lot of varieties of food from locals’ cuisine (like ambuyat) to the international flavours like Japanese food where you can find at Escapade at Kiulap, Chinese food which famous for its dim sum, Arabic food at Sugar and Spice in Kiulap, etc. Tourist can find the food in Brunei are all delicious and at reasonably priced. Asides from that Brunei also offers catering services for local events such as at wedding ceremonies and many more.

Business & Tourist Accommodation

Empire and Country Club
Sheraton Utama Hotel
Orchid Garden Hotel
Riverview Hotel
Brunei Hotel
Terrace Hotel
Jubilee Hotel
Grand City Hotel
Traders Inn
LR Asma Hotel

See more>>

SHOPPING

Brunei love to shop. In a country that imports a whole range and even manufactures a number of the own consumer goods. It is no surprise that shopping takes up a good proportion of everybody’s leisure time. These days, with shopping complexes mushrooming everywhere, the indication is that shopping has grown into an even bigger pastime.

Shoppers are generally spoilt for choice. From tiny boutique shops to huge shopping complexes culminating in a massive shopping mall in Gadong decked with endless shiny stores, visitors and locals alike to get indulge in their desire to buy everything under the sky. Offering a wide variety of goods at incredibly competitive prices, shoppers can pick up chandeliers and antique furniture priced at a few thousands dollars.

For many travelers, one of the pleasures of visiting another country is finding something of interest and value of oneself, family or friends. From market stalls and ‘syarikats’ to department stores, for souvenirs specific to Brunei, a number of stores have been listed in this chapter.

The largest shopping mall in Brunei is The Mall in the heart of Gadong. There is also the majestic Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah on Jalan Mc Arthur. This is a breathtaking piece of architecture with ample parking for visitors. One of the largest chains of stores in Brunei, Hua Ho Dept. Store, is a popular one-stop shop for locals. There is a wide selection of groceries and designer goods available. Downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait and Seria sport a variety of modern air-conditioned outlets and older shop houses. There are also a number of shops at the international Airport, where you can purchase Duty free items, CDs, sports equipment, chocolates and also a good selection of books on the region.

Trendy shoppers can go to the Mall, the Hua Ho Mall, Yayasan Shopping Complex, Seria Plaza, Halim Plaza, etc.
The Brunei Grand sale is normally held once a year and offers major discounts on most items. Promotions include special lucky draws accompanied by attractive prizes.

SCENERY

Brunei offers you many interesting places to see with very friendly and hospitable people to welcome you. For the visitor, they will awe by the excellent museums, resplendent mosques and scenic spots in the country. Most of the places are located in and around the capital. The city is neat, clean, and modern with wide roads and extravagant public buildings

Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei-Muara District
This is the capital of Brunei Darussalam and the main centre of population. It is also the centre of education, culture and administration.

The tourist attractions…

The Brunei Museum
The Malay Technology Museum
Royal Regalia Building
Brunei History Centre
The Arts and Handicrafts Centre
Bumbongan Duabelas
Sultan’s Bolkiah Tomb

Tutong

This district has an area of 1,166 sq km and the third largest of Brunei’s four districts. It is a home to indigenous groups like Tutong Malays, Kedayans, Dusuns and Ibans. Tutong is almost midway between Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Belait.

The tourist attractions…

Sungai Basong Recreational Park
Pantai Seri Kenangan Beach
Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park
Tasek Pedanu

Belait

The district, the centre of the oil and gas industries, is about 100km from the capital. Seria and Kuala Belait, situated about 66km from the capital, are the largest towns.

The tourist attractions…

Anduki Jubilee Recreation Park
Teraja Waterfall, Belait
Mendaram Waterfall
Luagan Lalak Forest Reserve Park
Lumut BeachMendaram Iban Longhouse

Temburong

Temburong has a land area of 1,288 sq km. is is ostly covered with dense, unexploited forestland with mountainous terrain in the eastern part of the district. It is the least populated district. The main town is Bangar.

The tourist attractions…

Bukit Patoi Recreational Park
Ulu Temburong National Park
Kuala Belalong Mini Park

CULTURE OF BRUNEI

Brunei is predominating Malay, and customs, beliefs and pastimes are very similar to those of Peninsular Malaysia. Adat, or customary law governs many of the country’s ceremonies because Brunei Darussalam has a history that stretches far back to the Old Malay World.

It is thus bestowed with a heritage of traditions and customs - mostly influenced by Islam, the official religion where behavioral traits and forms of address. Brunei is a fairly strict Muslim country and Ministry of Religious Affairs fosters and promotes Islam. The constitution does, however, allow for other religions to be practiced. Being an Islamic monarchy, religious rites and ritual are devoutly observed by all Muslims. Non-Muslims who live in the country or who are visiting are expected to give their due respect.
Brunei stresses upon the importance of upholding the nation’s heritage in the form of titles and royal regalia, carvings and the architectural design of buildings to ensure that the legacy is passed down from one generation to the next without losing its essence in modernization. By holding this tradition, His Majesty Malay introduces his kingdom to the world as the oldest Malay state on the island of Borneo.

ACTIVITIES

There are wide variety of sports and recreational activities available in Brunei namely - golf, bowling, squash, tennis, swimming, badminton, snooker, windsurfing, soccer, aerobics and traditional sports such as gasing, sepak takraw and kite-flying. The country has good facilities to accommodate many of these.

Golf
Golf is a popular game in Brunei with an international-standard 18-hole par 72 golf course at Brunei Muara District. It is situated at Jalan Pengkalan Sibabau.

Other courses:

the Royal Brunei Golf
the Country Club at Jerudong Park
the Panaga Golf Club in Seria.

For those interested in practicing their game, there is a driving range at the Royal Brunei Sports Complex near the Airport.

Bowling
Bowling enthusiasts can head on down to the Utama Bowling Alley on Jalan Tutong in the capital city.

Tennis
Name your surfaces: Clay? Synthetic grass? Cement? You can find these courts at the Youth and Welfare Sports Complex on Jalan Berakas.

Swimming
For a small entry fee, you can access the public swimming pools at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan and at the Mumong Sports in Kuala Belait.

Squash
You can enjoy a game of squash at the public courts at the National Stadium. The courts are open daily except on Fridays and Sundays. Bookings can be made at the stadium for a moderate fee.

Windsurfing and Kayaking
This is fun activities! Hire your boards at the Royal Brunei National Wind Surfing Association at Serasa Beach and surf your hearts out! For those who want a gentler watersport, you can also hire kayaks from the same place.

Snooker
There are a few snooker clubs at various places at the heart of the city. Most located at Arena in Beribi and Kiulap area.

Scuba Diving
The dive club meets at the Anggerek Desa swimming pool in Bandar Seri Begawan on Monday nights at 8 p.m. it is an active dive club. If you would like to go for a dive, there are private operators like Scuba-Tech at Empire Hotel & Country Club who run boat trips to Brunei Bay at weekends. They also offer kit hire, guided dives and courses.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Taxi and Bus Services

In the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, taxis are located at the multi-storey car park at Jalan Cator. These taxis replace the City Transport Service (CTS). Visitors can also opt for chauffer-driven and self-driven cars, which are on rental from major hotels and the airport.

Buses are regular, comfortable and cheap. There are six bus routes in daily operation in Bandar Seri Begawan – the Eastern Line, the Southern Line, the Western Line, the Central Line, the Circle Line and the Northern Line. Buses operate from 6.30am to 6.00m, with the Central Line Bus running every 15 minutes and the Circle Line every 20 minutes.

The Central Line stops at the following bus stations: The Brunei International Airport, post office, Government offices, Government schools, the Terrace Hotel, Youth Centre, the main bus terminal in Bandar Seri Begawan, the Arts and Handicraft Training Centre, the Brunei Museum and the Malay Technology Museum.

The Circle Line stops at the main bus terminal in Bandar, the RIPAS Hospital, the Jame Asr’ Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, the Gadong Wet (fish and vegetables) Market, the Centrepoint in Gadong, Government offices, Immigration /Labour Department, the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, the Islamic Dakwah Centre, Supasave Supermarket, Terrace Hotel, Sheraton Hotel and the Youth Centre.

The Northern Line has 3 routes, Northern Line 1, 2 and 3. Northern Line 1 and 2 run between Berakas Camp, the Brunei International Airport and the bus terminal in Bandar. Northern Line 3 runs between the Berakas Camp, the bus terminal and the Malay Technoloy Museum in Kota Batu.

To travel to major town outside Bandar, one can take buses going from the Seria and Kulala Belait bus terminal, located at the multi-storey car park. Bus fares start from B$1.00. Taxis can be hails from the street or from Jalan Cator. The rates are very reasonable.

Ferry and Water Taxi Service

Brunei is still dependent on its waterways to get around. The numerous ferry and water taxi services are the most common form of negotiating the rivers, especially at Kampong Ayer. Water taxis can be hailed from the numerous ‘docking ports’ along the riverbanks of the Brunei River and fares are negotiable. These water taxis and boats are transport passengers wishing to travel to Temburong and the Malaysian towns of Limbang and Sundar. Services start from 7.45am till 4pm daily.

Those wishing to go to the Malaysian Federal Territory of Labuan and the Malaysian towns of Sudar and Lawas can board the ferries at Serasa Terminal, Muara. The ferry to the Malaysian town of Miri departs from Sunagi Tujoh in Kuala Belait.

Civil Aviation

Commercial transport in Brunei begin in 1953, with the establishment of air service links connecting Bandar Seri Begawan with Anduki in the Belait district. Initial flights to Malaysia were made to accommodate travelers from Labuan in Sabah and Lutong in Sarawak. Airport services were operated from the Berakas area at an old runway site built by the Japanese World War II. It was known then as the Brunei Airport.

Royal Brunei Airlines

Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) is the national carrier for the Sultanate. Established on 18th November 1974 as an independent corporation, it is wholly owned by the Government of Brunei Darussalam.

Conclusion..

In conclusion to all of these we hope you enjoy a long stay in Brunei Darussalam and hopefully all of this information will guide you.

WorldTourism Brunei Darussalam