James Kon
Nine individuals who recently completed a 10-day tourist guide basis course said it helped them boost their self-confidence and learn more about Brunei Darussalam’s attractions.
Erica Natasha anak Daraman said as a Bruneian, she has a dream to introduce the Sultanate to foreigners and show them the local culture. “I also want to meet people visiting Brunei.
The course is really helpful and I learnt a lot. During the 10-day course, I learnt new things and was able to build my confidence in public speaking.”
With the impact of COVID-19, the 23-year-old said, “This is the best time to introduce domestic tourism. I am an eco-tour guide and I can show visitors the pristine nature of the Sultanate such as Ulu Belalong in Temburong District and participate in nature activities such as water activities and wall climbing.”
Liu Shieh Ling said, “We are working in the tourism industry and it is beneficial for us to participate in the tourist guide basic course to learn about tourist hotspots as well as the local cultures to provide better and accurate information to visitors.
“Before I joined the course, I knew of the tourist hotspots however I did not have in-depth information on each place. The course was not easy to pass and only nine of us managed to complete the course.”
Muhammad Syafique Waqiyuddin bin Haji Noor Amirul Emha said he wanted to join the course to know about Brunei from a tourist’s perspective.
“I am still learning. I am a former Laksamana College of Business (LCB) student and now I am currently taking my master’s at Universiti Tenaga Malaysia,” he said. “I want to experience the differences between Malaysia and Brunei.”
After his studies, he plans on being a part-time tour guide in the Sultanate. Regarding the course, the 23-years-old said, “Surprisingly, it was not as difficult as I thought it would be but it was still very challenging. We must be confident in public speaking and provide accurate information.”
On the recovery of local tourism industry, he said, “Insya Allah, the country’s tourism industry can revive.
“However, it will take time because the industry itself is very challenging, as it has been vastly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.”
They received their certificates at a ceremony at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism’s (MPRT) Setia Pahlawan Hall.
