Tourism

With a near-pristine environmental record and more than 70% of its territory covered by tropical rainforest, Brunei Darussalam has strong potential to capture a sizeable share of the growing Asian ecotourism and family holiday market. The country is host to an abundance of natural attractions, from rainforests to beaches, rare wildlife to the legacy of tribal cultures, and a rich vein of Islamic history. Despite these strengths, the industry remains relatively small as a share of the Sultanate’s overall economy. There is recognition by the government and various stakeholders that the current tourism model is unlikely to contribute much towards economic growth, and efforts moving forward will focus in particular on high-end and low-volume tourism with a minimum impact on the Sultanate’s environment and local culture. This chapter contains an interview with Mariani Haji Sabtu, Acting Director, Tourism Development Department.