Brunei Tourism introduces Belait Tourism Product Packages
Brunei Tourism continued its tourism product packages promotion in the Belait district recently, marking the third destination for the board’s initiative to encourage domestic travels among locals and residents in the country.
The launch of the Belait Tourism Product Packages was held at the Tropical Biodiversity Centre in Mukim Labi, home of one of Brunei’s vast forest reserves and recreational parks.
The promotion was a continuation of the previous introduction of the Temburong and Brunei-Muara Tourism Product Packages.
The objective of the launching of Tourism Product Packages is to promote places of interest offering experiential tours service that combine all primary products, emerging products and products from the Village Consultative Councils (MPK).
It is also aimed to assist tourism stakeholders such as hotels, tourist guides, tourist agents, tourism service providers in providing complete and flexible itineraries.
The tourism board’s initiative also seeks to foster new tourism attractions that are less known but have the potential to be developed as the main attraction; prepare for school holidays April, August and December as well as for tourist arrivals from abroad once borders are opened.
In her speech at the event, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) Hajah Tutiaty Haji Abdul Wahab said that Belait district is undoubtedly known for the country’s oil and gas with several tourist attractions reflecting the legacy of the growth of oil and gas industry.
“Some of the places include the Billionth Barrel Monument that was built to mark the billionth barrel of crude oil in Seria and the Seria Energy Lab, an education centre for visitors to understand the importance of energy,” she said.
The permanent secretary further said that the district is also known for its ecotourism-related activities such as the Tropical Biodiversity Centre, Sungai Liang Recreational Park, Luagan Lalak Forest Recreational Park under the Forestry Department as well as two Iban longhouses in Teraja and Mendaram Besar.
“Another most visited place is the nine-hectare Labi Coffee Farm that houses more than 18,000 coffee trees bearing premium coffee beans. One can also go for stargazing and camping at the Luagan Lalak park or at the Sungai Mau Recreational Park organised by the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam,” she added.
In conjunction with the launch of the district’s product packages, brochures were also produced that included sample itineraries, allowing visitors to choose from or design their own tailor-made tours and activities through local travel agencies.
Prior to visiting the places of interest in the mukim, five trees were planted at the biodiversity centre as part of the Forestry Department’s ongoing ex-situ conservation initiative.
Among the trees planted was Eusideroxylon Zwageri, locally known as Belian Batu or the Borneon Ironwood, a native tree to this country, known for its durability and strength.
In recent years, these species have been declining and has been listed in CITES and categorised as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Moreover, a familiarisation trip was also conducted for participating personnel and agencies in a bid to learn more about tourism products and activities that are available in Belait District, starting with a tour of the trekking trail at Tropical Biodiversity Centre; visit Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park and Mendaram Besar Long House in Kampong Labi.
The promotion of tourism product packages will continue with the final launching of Tutong Tourism Product Packages at the official residence of the Tutong District Officer.
Also present the one-day event were MPRT’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, members of the Brunei Tourism Board, chairman of Kuala Belait and Seria municipal board and government officials as well as tourism stakeholders.