Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Abdul Manaf Metussin delivers his remarks at the meeting. - MPRT
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): Ramping up flight capacity and ecotourism are part of Brunei Darussalam’s push to revitalise the country’s tourism industry during the post Covid-19 pandemic era, said Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Abdul Manaf Metussin at the 11th Apec Tourism Ministerial Meeting (11th TMM) in Thailand on Friday (Aug 19).
The minister said resuming and increasing air connectivity is crucial in enabling and promoting key economic flows such as trade, investment and tourism.
“Brunei Darussalam is continuously ramping up flight capacities for the ease of movement to cater for the inbound and outbound travellers, including transit passengers,” said the minister.
The minister said Brunei Darussalam has also attracted local and foreign investments in enhancing activities related to ecotourism.
“This has served as an impetus to harness opportunities in economic recovery that will contribute to regenerative tourism as a way forward,” said the minister.
The 11th TMM, themed, ‘Tourism of the Future: Regenerative Tourism’, was chaired by Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
According to the Tourism Development Department, the meeting advances priorities to develop the region through an inclusive and sustainable growth, to implement the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, while driving APEC towards a sustainable and balanced post-Covid-19 era through the concept of Bio-Circular-Green Economy.
The meeting also underscored the importance of the implementation of the APEC Connectivity Blue Print 2015-2025, which outlines People-to-People Connectivity and reduce uncertainties relating to tourism.
Significant new uncertainties and challenges have heightened the need to harness the cooperation among Apec economies and advance work on sustainable tourism, to achieve the vision of an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040.
The Apec tourism ministers and senior representatives welcomed the Policy Recommendations for ‘Tourism of the Future: Regenerative Tourism’, which reflects the concerted enthusiasm of all Apec economies in pursuit of a strong, balanced, sustainable, and inclusive growth.
Focusing on priorities and implications through more place-based and meaningful forms of better tourism to enhance the connectivity of the entire tourism eco-system, the policy recommendations may serve as guidance for Apec economies to develop tourism as a key driver to enhance the well-being of the Apec population.
The Apec tourism ministers and representatives also welcomed the updated Apec Guidelines for Tourism Stakeholders.
The guidelines for tourism stakeholders are founded on the values of sustainability, inclusivity, respect, responsibility, openness, innovation and partnership of their tourism sectors to optimise the benefits of tourism.
Brunei Darussalam’s delegation also included Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Tutiaty Abdul Wahab as well as officials from the Tourism Development Department.
