HOW TO SELL BRUNEI The abode of peace BRUNEI
GENERAL INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: Malay TIME ZONE: +7 GMT VISAS: None required – UK passport holders get a 30-day 'entry pass'. CURRENCY: Bruneian dollar (BND$1 = approx. £0.50) CLIMATE: Hot and humid with average temperatures of 28- 32ºC. Wet season is from September to January. February to August is the prime time to visit. USEFUL WEBSITES:
bruneitourism.travel bruneiair.com uluuluresort.com TOP TIP: Brunei is a dry country but your clients can bring alcohol in duty- free to drink it in their hotel room.
BY LAURA GELDER
Brunei Darussalam (meaning abode of peace) is a beguiling mix of southeast Asian and Islamic culture. Often confused as a Middle Eastern destination for its ostentatious displays of oil wealth, Brunei couldn’t be further from arid Arabia. It is located on Borneo, one of the world’s bio-diverse islands, and is home to one of the planet’s oldest rainforests. Brunei’s proactive tourism board
makes sure this tiny country gets a fairly big share of publicity, but there is still some way to go in terms of selling it to the public as more than just an Aussie stopover. Find out how to sell it on its own merits, below.
Eco attributes The jewel in Brunei’s golden crown is its jungle, which is 70 million years older than the Amazon rainforest. Brunei’s Ulu Temburong National Park has never been settled and is only accessible by boat, making it a thrilling journey. At Sumbiling Eco Village guests can
enjoy rustic food cooked over the fi re and sleep in tents by the river. The camp’s local guides lead forest treks and explain the fl ora and fauna of the area. They can arrange bespoke special interest tours in subjects such as cooking or photography. The more upmarket Ulu Ulu Resort is located next to the rushing river along polished wooden walkways and has access to one of Brunei’s biggest attractions – it’s canopy walkway. The scaffold structure rises 60 metres above the rainforest fl oor and gives breathtaking views across the misty jungle from sunrise. Other activities offered by the lodge include kayaking and tubing down the river.
Creature feature Nature lovers can spot unusual and exciting wildlife in Brunei – and just outside the city. Half an hour’s boat ride from the shopping malls of capital Bandar Seri Begawan, or BSB, are the twisted mangroves of the Brunei River, where the bulbous-nosed proboscis monkeys, white egrets and saltwater crocodiles, to name just a few, lurk. Further into the jungle, Ulu
Temburong, the eco resort of Ulu Ulu, offers guided nature walks through the jungle. Here visitors can spot a host of quirky creatures such as fl ying lizards,
“Brunei's Ulu Temburong National Park has never been settled and is only accessible by boat, making it a thrilling journey”
mousedeer and wild boar. Birdwatchers look out for diving kingfi shers and soaring hornbills and the hoot of the lanky-armed gibbon is all around. Night walks by torch and moonlight are also popular. Here, a guide points out nocturnal creatures such as the rare horned frog and sparkling fi refl ies.
Culture clincher The glittering domes of BSB’s mosques stand out like jewels in this low-rise low- key city. Most mosques are accessible, and provided visitors cover-up, they can peek
into the vast, carpeted prayer halls. A visit to the Royal Regalia Museum
gives further context to the Sultanate and its wealthy ruling family – the golden coronation chariot in particular, is a sight to behold. At the other end of the scale is the
Clockwise from top: Guided trekking in
Brunei's rainforest is safe and allows access to remote, beautiful areas; jungle river;
BSB's Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque; a young Iban man in tradtional dress
www.sellinglonghaul.com • October 2012 45
DEVIN KHO/SXC
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