By P Marilyn
Bandar Seri Begawan - There is a need for all citizens of Brunei Darussalam to be more responsible in maintaining the country`s infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of tourists.
This was said by Acting Minister of Industry and Primary Resources and Brunei Tourism Board Chairman Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah bin Haji Abdul Wahab in a speech during the official opening of Megamas Training Company Sdn Bhd yesterday at Regent Square, Kiulap.
"We, as Bruneians and hosts to our guests, have a common responsibility, that is, to ensure that our guests and tourists continue to have a positive experience during their visit to the Sultanate and to return safe to their home countries," said the acting minister. "When you have more people coming into the country and walk on our walkway, climb on our canopy walk, there is an increasing burden and pressure on our infrastructure."
The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources is targeting a seven per cent growth in the number of visitors this year, but it also believes to have the potential for a double-digit growth, given the growth rate of more than 12 per cent last year.
"This is the best we have ever done. It is better than Apec and better than world average. We are on par with (the rest of) Asean. This is indeed a great start," Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah said.
He urged all parties - public and private sectors - to work together in ensuring that all guests or tourists this year are given the best services and have a memorable experience in the country.
To achieve this, the acting minister highlighted the importance of the responsibilities of asset owners, including ensuring the integrity of assets by maintaining the health, safety and environmental standards of the services.
He further emphasised on the importance of cooperation between ministries, citing the Ulu Temburong National Park as a good example of three ministries - the Ulu Temburong National Park under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, the Belalong Research Centre under Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and the Outward Bound under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports - working together to increase the level of services to tourists.
Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah went on to applaud Megamas Training Company for their achievements over the past years.
"You are not a local player, but a regional player. The evidence of that is that you have one of the finest facilities and capabilities in Southeast Asia. This is based on the fact that over the last 20 years, Megamas Training Company has trained thousands of people from Asean, China, Korea, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand."
The training company is also the first training provider worldwide to undertake the carbon foot printing study to better understand its environmental impacts throughout its core and related business.
Sumber : www.brunei-online.com (24 Mei 2008)
