TUTONG

THE Tutong District Office is planning to establish an administrative body to manage its “Destinasi Tutong” tourism initiative.

Wardi Hj Mohd Ali yesterday said the administrative body will be under the purview of the Tutong District Office, tasked with developing strategies to increase the number of tourists visiting the district.

“Tourism services will be provided by the respective village consultative councils (MPK), but an administrative body will be set up to oversee ‘Destinasi Tutong’,” said the Tutong district officer.

He added they will be responsible for selling the 27 tourism packages that have been put together with the aim of promoting 31 identified attractions across the district. The tourism packages, which have yet to be launched, will include activities such as guided tours.

“These tourism packages will enable people to experience the best of what Tutong has to offer,” he said in a district-level meeting with grassroots leaders at his residence.

With hundreds of jobs expected to open up as an economic spin-off to “Destinasi Tutong”, Wardi explained that the administrative body will also be tasked with hiring the right people to carry out the tourism services.

Besides creating employment opportunities, he hoped the tourism initiative will serve as a major contributor to Brunei’s economic diversification efforts.

The Tutong District Office last year identified 31 attractions, illustrated on a colourful map titled “Selamat Sabi Destinasi Tutong” (Welcome to Destinasi Tutong), as part of its drive to push the district as a tourism destination.

A majority of the attractions were newly-developed as a result of the One Village, One Product (OVOP) initiative.

The map featured popular destinations such as the Seri Kenangan Beach in Kg Sengkarai and Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park in Kg Merimbun alongside new attractions including the Bintudoh Greenspring Resort in Mukim Lamunin.

The Brunei Times