Brunei to provide more travel packages, flight options for Chinese tourists

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — After announcing expansion of service into Beijing, capital of China two weeks ago, Brunei is ready to provide more flight connections to Chinese cities and more travel packages to Chinese tourists.

Awang Wardi Bin Hj Mohammad Ali, acting permanent secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, said Thursday that Brunei welcomes more visitors from China and other countries with more convenience and attractions provided.

"We are very glad to have our Chinese friends around. Our tourism department is looking at several more packages for not only the Chinese but also for other markets," he told Xinhua on the sidelines of a press conference of Royal Brunei Airlines (RB), the sultanate's national airline.

"Besides improving our standards and quality of the our products, we are also looking to expand more tourism activities in Brunei, including river cruise in several locations. With these new activities and packages, we believe it will help to invite more tourists to our country," he added.

According to Karam Chand, RB's CEO, the flag carrier is considering opening more flights to Chinese cities.

"China market is so big and sophisticated, so we need to take different strategies to save the market, including more scheduled flights and chartered flights," he said.

"When you look at the trade, the growing bilateral relations and the movement of people, the potential for tourism, investment, all these things are there between Brunei and China," he said.