Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, who led a delegation from Brunei Darussalam, had a fruitful networking session in Indonesia.
The session, aimed at fostering stronger partnerships and exploring collaborative opportunities between travel agencies from the Sultanate and Indonesia, was organised by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) through the Tourism Development Department, in collaboration with the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in Jakarta and the Association of the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA).
Permanent Secretary at MPRT Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab and officers from the Tourism Development Department accompanied the minister.
Recognising the growing importance of Indonesia as a key target market, the initiative comes amid a steady rise in Indonesian tourist arrivals to Brunei.
Indonesia consistently ranks among the top three sources of tourist arrivals for Brunei’s tourism industry.
In 2024, Brunei recorded 25,974 tourist arrivals by air from Indonesia, nearly doubling the 13,673 arrivals in 2023.
The growth underscores the potential for even stronger ties between the two nations, bolstered by strategic collaborations such as the networking session. With initiatives like these, Brunei is optimistic about further enhancing its appeal to Indonesian travelers.
Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Indonesia Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abdul Kadir and ASITA President Dr Nunung Rusmiati were also in attendance.
The event began with a cultural performance showcasing Brunei’s rich heritage, followed by opening remarks from the permanent secretary and a presentation by the Tourism Development Department.
Themed ‘Brunei Yuk! Destinasi Halal Favoritmu’, the session highlighted Brunei as a unique tourism destination in Asia, emphasising its Islamic cultural and natural heritage.
The theme underscores Brunei’s appeal as a top choice for halal tourism, offering a blend of cultural richness, spiritual tranquility, and breathtaking nature. Nature-filled adventures and Islamic heritage experiences were particularly highlighted as key attractions for Indonesian travellers.
A key milestone of the event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) titled ‘Strategic Collaboration for Promoting Inbound Travel Between Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia’ between the Tourism Development Department of MPRT and ASITA. The collaboration aims to promote inbound travel between the Sultanate and Indonesia, fostering greater cooperation in joint promotions, tourism development initiatives and creating shared opportunities to boost both nations’ tourism sectors.
The Brunei delegation included representatives from 11 travel agencies, hotel operators, and the national airline.
During the Business-to-Business (B2B) session, the representatives engaged with over 40 Indonesian travel agents to discuss potential partnerships and collaborative ventures.
The session provided a platform for Brunei’s tourism stakeholders to present their offerings and build connections with their Indonesian counterparts.
The minister also met the newly-appointed Minister of Tourism of Indonesia Widiyanti Putri Wardhana.
The courtesy meeting marked an important step in establishing connections and exploring potential areas for bilateral tourism collaboration between the two nations.
The networking session is part of Brunei’s broader initiatives to attract more Indonesian travellers to the Sultanate.
Earlier this year, the Tourism Development Department conducted several familiarisation trips for Indonesian travel agents specialising in Muslim travel, as well as media and social media influencers from Indonesia to showcase Brunei’s unique attraction. – James Kon
