Lyna Mohamad
The much anticipated Brunei Travel Fair will be back after missing out on the last two years due to the pandemic outbreak in the Sultanate.
This year’s edition will see 47 booths at the OneCity Shopping Centre in Sungai Hanching this weekend.
This was announced by Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) Sdn Bhd at a press conference at Manggis Mall yesterday, which saw the attendance of travel agencies, tourism boards and banks.
The travel fair to be held on October 29 and 30, marks the 17th edition and is the first in-person travel fair post pandemic, said Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) Acting General Manager Abdul Halim bin Haji Abdul Rahman.
“As previous years, the travel fair provides unique offers and packages to travellers for their dream vacation. As the travel industry is on the state of recovery, we are optimistic that we will achieve 85 per cent of the booking compared to the Brunei Travel Fair pre-pandemic,” he said.
Organised by Sabre Travel Network (Brunei), the two-day event provides airlines, banks, national tourist offices, hotels, insurance services and travel agents with a unique platform to promote and showcase their products and services to potential travellers.
The travel fair serves as a platform in providing the convenience of shopping for a wide range of travel deals under one roof.
Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) Country Manager Borneo Lim Guat Wen said with travel demand growing around the globe, “RB is pleased to reconnect with all trade partners and public, and supporting Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) in the fair to provide various offers.
“We believe that it would entice the public in purchasing RB products with destinations including Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and other Asian countries with the relaunching of the long-awaited Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei with attractive offers.” She added that RB also has offers for its long-haul destinations such as Dubai, London and Melbourne and is bringing back the daily lucky draw for customers purchasing any RB tickets where they stand a chance to win prizes such as return air tickets to Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Kuching, Taipei or Tokyo.
“We also have other daily draws where guests can win unique merchandise from Baiduri and RB. There will also be three Grand Draw prizes that Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) will announce after the travel fair.”
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines (SIA) General Manager (Brunei) Keith Ting shared that airlines will support the travel fair with a myriad of value adds for customers who make purchase with participating travel agents.
Customers can look forward to attractive fare deals and stand to win instant prizes and a lucky draw prize of an SQ ticket to Perth (Australia).
“We look forward to welcoming visitors and customers to the SIA booth to participate in mini-game, experience VR headsets and more,” he added.
The participating booths of travel agents include Anthony Tours and Travel Agency, At-Taqwa Travel Tours, Dar El Ehsan Travel, Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, Freme Travel Services, Halim Tours and Travel, JJ Tour Service, Pan Bright Travel Service, Southern Cross Travel Agencies Sdn Bhd and Straits Central Agencies (B) Sdn Bhd.
Brunei Travel Fair is also participated by Brunei Tourism Board, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, Sabah Tourism Board and Sarawak Tourism Board.
Local financial institutions – Baiduri Bank Berhad, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) and Standard Chartered Bank and RB and SIA will also be on site with their own booths to support participating travel agents and assist visitors. Insurans Islam TAIB and Takaful Brunei Am Sdn Bhd will also participate to offer insurance services.
The travel fair will be marked with an opening ceremony by Acting Chief Executive Officer of RB Captain Sabirin bin Haji Abdul Hamid, who is also the invited Chairman of Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2022.
