BRUNEI is well-placed to package "rainforests to reefs" tours to ride on its rich marine and forest biodiversity and even its reputation as an oil producer.
Dr Lida Pet Soede, head of the Coral Triangle Network Initiative, said that Sabah, Philippines and Indonesia also have an abundance of coral resources, but Brunei has something special that nobody has. "What we have been discussing and found interesting was that Brunei has some specialties like diving at decommissioned oil rigs which could be developed as unique dive resorts over the water," she told The Brunei Times at the closing yesterday of "The Next Frontier: Forests to reefs, challenges and opportunities" workshop.
She said Brunei has excellent potential to develop marine tourism, particularly if done in combination with the development of a marine protected area. "Brunei has aesthetically pleasing reef scapes (unique mix of hard and soft corals and large colonies), good ornamental fish variety, though large fish life is currently lacking and given the situation, we envision several phases of tourism development. One example being a 'rainforests to reefs' combination package," said Dr Soede who works for WWF-Indonesia.
She also mentioned the development of deep technical wreck diving and the Louisa Reef, northwest of Belait.
"Louisa Reef, though not well-surveyed, is presumed to have strong tourism potential due to deep, clear surrounding waters and likely good fish biomass," she said, adding that Shipwreck Technical Diving is still a niche market, but is a rapidly growing sport in Southeast Asia. Bruneian wrecks could prove a huge attraction, she said.
The next step from here would be cooperating with the private sector, like tourism operators, to seek their input on a "rainforest to reef package", development of a promotional video on diving in the Sultanate and a possible booth at dive expos to begin promoting the country.
Dr Soede, however, stressed that an abundance in coral resources should not be seen as means of making a lot of money. "Coral reefs are critical to protect coastlines and by preserving what you currently have, there is a sustainable cycle for fishermen and their community. It's not making money out of the coral reef, but keeping that community sustainable so that you can still fish there in the future. If the coral reefs are disappearing, you can no longer support that lifestyle," she added.
Markus Ruf, one of the presenters at the workshop, said that Brunei has a relatively extensive coral reef tract, spanning 45 sq km, covering 0.5 per cent of Brunei's coastal shelf area.
"Brunei has almost exclusively subtidal patch reefs, a few islands (Pelong Rocks, Punyit, Pelumpong and Muara Besar) and one offshore reef complex (Louisa)," he said, adding the main man-made threats faced are fishing nets.
He noted that Brunei's reef tract while good, shows strong signs of overfishing as there is a lack of large predators and abundance of discarded nets. But he said the set-up of marine protected areas and changes in fishery policies can make Brunei a new and attractive dive and tourism destination.
Brief Introduction of Brunei
Brunei Darussalam is a small country with great potential. It is ranked number one in the Islamic world in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI), which measures a country's quality of life.
Strategically located on the north-west coast of the island of Borneo, right in the heart of Asia, it is just two to three hours flying distance from most ASEAN countries. Brunei has a total land area of 5,765 km² and over 160 kilometers of coastline along the South China Sea. Sitting on the equator, Brunei Darussalam enjoys an equatorial climate with an average temperature of about 28° Celsius, high humidity and heavy rainfall.
Brunei Darussalam is divided into four districts, namely Brunei-Muara, Tutong, Belait and Temburong. Its capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is located in the Brunei-Muara district. The capital is the centre of Government and business activities. All the other major towns are within a two hour driving distance from Bandar Seri Begawan.
Population
Latest statistics put Brunei Darussalam’s population at 390,000 and growing at an average rate of 1.8% per annum. Brunei Darussalam has a multi-racial society, comprising of 67% Malays and 15% Chinese. Other races such as Indians, indigenous ethnic groups and expatriates make up the rest of the country’s population. Brunei Darussalam has a young population: 54% are in the 20-54 working age group, another 39% are below the age of 19 while only 7% are 55 and above.
Language
Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language) is the official language, but English is also widely spoken and understood. Various dialects of Chinese and Indian are used by the respective communities. Arabic is also taught in schools and institutions of higher learning.
Religion
Islam is the official religion of Brunei Darussalam and has been since the 14th century. Brunei takes its religion very seriously and has developed a strong Islamic reputation around the world. However, Brunei also practices religious tolerance as underwritten by the constitution. Other faiths practiced in the State include Christianity and Buddhism. About 67% of the population is Muslim.
Government
A British protectorate since 1888, Brunei Darussalam and became an independent sovereign Sultanate on 1 January 1984. Brunei Darussalam is governed on the basis of a written constitution which came into effect in 1959. Under the constitution His Majesty the Sultan has executive authority and is assisted and advised by 5 constitutional bodies, namely the Council of Succession, the Council of Cabinet Ministers, the Privy Council, the Religious Council and the Legislative Council.
The present Head of State and Head of Government is His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the 29th monarch to succeed to the throne. His Majesty is also the Prime Minister and heads a team of Cabinet Ministers.
Judiciary
Brunei Darussalam’s judiciary system is based on English Common Law. The Supreme Court comprises the High Court and the Court of Appeals, while the Subordinate Court consists of the Magistrate's Courts. A Syariah Court also co-exists with the Supreme Court and deals with Islamic laws. For Muslims, Islamic Syariah Law supersedes civil law in a number of areas. In 1991 the Intermediate Court was established with extensive civil and criminal jurisdiction; although it does not deal with capital offences.
Education
The Government of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam provides free education to all Brunei Darussalam citizens and permanent residents who attend government schools. While the current education policy priorities the Malay Language as the official national language, English is most commonly used as the medium of instruction. Arabic is also used in religious schools.
The literacy rate in Brunei Darussalam is about 93%, which is among the highest in the world. The United Nations Development Programme has ranked Brunei Darussalam 30th in the “High Human Development” category.
Healthcare
Healthcare is a priority to His Majesty’s Government by demonstrated in the provision of a comprehensive health care system for the people of Brunei Darussalam. The main health policy is to provide high quality yet cost effective health care in order to maintain a high standard of living in a clean and healthy environment. Among the objectives are to reduce the infant mortality rate, diseases and disability, promote a healthy way of life and improve the environment.
Brunei Darussalam’s health services are ranked among the best in Asia. Citizens of Brunei Darussalam are charged a nominal fee at public hospitals and health clinics. Apart from public health care there are also private clinics and a private medical centre for those who seeking alternatives.