KUALA LUMPUR: Brunei is stepping up preparations for a future Unesco World Heritage nomination, with regional and international heritage experts convening in the Sultanate on Tuesday (Feb 3) for a capacity-building seminar supported by the Asean-Korea Centre (AKC).
In a statement, AKC said the seminar, titled "Laying the Groundwork: Beginning the Unesco World Heritage Pathway in Brunei”, was organised in collaboration with Brunei’s Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) to strengthen the country’s readiness for the Unesco World Heritage nomination process.
Heritage experts from key institutions, including the Unesco Regional Office in Jakarta, the Korea Heritage Service, the Korean National Commission for Unesco, and the Jeju World Natural Heritage Centre, shared country- and region-specific cases of Unesco World Heritage inscription and their broader implications, it said.
The experts also conducted a technical visit to Ulu Temburong National Park, designated as Brunei's priority nomination site, to inspect and exchange ideas on the status of natural heritage management, biodiversity conservation efforts and the heritage value of the park’s natural environment.
Brunei possesses rich natural and cultural heritage, with more than 70 per cent of its land area covered by forests.
According to AKC, the MPRT has been actively pursuing Unesco World Heritage inscription by strengthening heritage protection and management frameworks throughout the nomination process, while promoting sustainable heritage tourism to enhance national tourism competitiveness.
Brunei recently secured Unesco recognition for its traditional attire, Kebaya, and traditional oral literature, Pantun, which were inscribed on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
AKC said about 80 participants, including government officials, tourism industry professionals and academic experts, took part in the discussions on nomination requirements, preparation strategies and the need to balance conservation management with tourism development after inscription.
AKC Secretary-General Kim Jae-shin said the seminar served as a platform to share Korea’s and Asean’s experiences in the Unesco heritage inscription process, while supporting Brunei’s efforts towards heritage listing and tourism capacity-building.
"The AKC will continue to expand tourism cooperation between Brunei and Korea in the years ahead,” he said. - Bernama
