Two prominent Japanese influencers, Ikuto Hongu and Tomohiro Yamashita, concluded their visit to Brunei Darussalam, describing the experience as spiritually enriching and the nation as a peaceful and serene destination, highlighting the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque and Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah as among the most beautiful mosques they had ever seen.
Their week-long exploration of the Abode of Peace was hosted by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, through the Tourism Development Department, as part of ongoing efforts to promote the Sultanate as a premier tourist destination.
Ikuto, known as Navito Halal, is a renowned influencer for promoting Muslim-friendly restaurants and destinations globally. He was recently awarded the prestigious Halal Travel Influencer of the Year by CrescentRating. His travel companion, Tomohiro, known as Tomo, is another influencer popular among social media users in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia.
A highlight of their visit was experiencing Brunei’s Maulidur Rasul celebration. Ikuto and Tomohiro were captivated by the country’s vibrant Islamic culture, participating in mosque-hopping to witness the nightly Dikir Maulidur Rasul ceremonies.
They also joined the parade procession in the capital, walking alongside thousands of Bruneians.
The influencers visited Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, where they viewed the special Noble Hair of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Gallery and the Faith and Devotion Exhibition. They expressed admiration for Brunei’s rich Islamic heritage and cultural artefacts.
Ikuto and Tomohiro also indulged in Brunei’s local cuisine, with several visits to the Gadong Night Market becoming a highlight of their stay. Their itinerary included adventure activities such as exploring Ulu Temburong National Park, golfing at The Empire Brunei, visiting Jerudong Park Playground and a sunset cycling ride at Meragang Beach.
At the conclusion of their visit, the duo met with Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Maeda Toru and officials from the Tourism Development Department at the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam, where they shared their experiences and discussed plans to promote Brunei to their audience through social media.
Since 2023, the Tourism Development Department has hosted over 20 influencers from countries including Dubai, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Earlier this year, the department launched digital campaigns in collaboration with Agoda, Expedia, and Tripadvisor to enhance Brunei’s global presence.
Moving forward, the department plans to launch more campaigns and collaborations next year, focusing on increasing tourism products available on online travel agencies (OTAs) to boost bookings and further elevate Brunei’s standing as a destination of choice. – James Kon
