AGP Executive Report

Visit Brunei Year 2027 Planning: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department is inviting local stakeholders to submit proposals for events, programmes and initiatives to help shape Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to spotlight Brunei’s culture, nature and tourism experiences while creating opportunities for businesses and communities. Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair (21st edition) kicks off at BRIDEX (12–13 Sept) with 39 exhibitors across 90 booths, and SCA is running Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Spend & Win deals—spend BND20+ in Malaysia before 31 Dec 2026 for a chance to win Royal Brunei Skies Miles, hotel stays and travel vouchers. Regional Travel Rules Watch: Thailand’s visa-free tourism stay drops from 60 to 30 days from 15 Sept 2026 for 60 countries/territories (including Brunei), with a one-time extension option via immigration; meanwhile, the US says ESTA applications take about 23 minutes on average and lists Brunei among ESTA-eligible nations. Travel Disruption & Safety: Indonesia’s haze from Kalimantan wildfires continues to disrupt life, while Anak Krakatau ash has extended Jakarta airport closures, affecting large numbers of flights and passengers. Tourism Inspiration: A new map highlights where international tourists spend the most, useful for destination planning and marketing ideas.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei Tourism Development Department is inviting local stakeholders to submit events, programs and initiatives for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to spotlight Brunei’s culture, nature and tourism experiences while creating more opportunities for businesses and communities. Travel Fair Buzz (Brunei): Straits Central Agencies (SCA) is promoting Cuti-Cuti Malaysia deals and rewards at the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair at BRIDEX (12–13 Sept), including a Spend & Win lucky draw for Baiduri cardholders with prizes like Royal Brunei Skies Miles, hotel stays and travel vouchers. Visa Ease for Bruneians: The US says the ESTA online application takes an average of 23 minutes, and Brunei is among the ESTA-eligible countries for short tourism, transit and business trips. Regional Visa Updates: Thailand is cutting its standard visa-free tourism stay from 60 to 30 days from 15 Sept, with a one-time extension option, while still reshuffling entry rules by nationality.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei Tourism Development Department is inviting local stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to boost both domestic and international visitor experiences and create opportunities for tourism businesses and communities. Travel Fair Deals: Straits Central Agencies (SCA) is promoting Cuti-Cuti Malaysia offers and rewards at the 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair (BRIDEX, Hall 1, Sept 12–13), with a Spend & Win Lucky Draw for Baiduri card users and prizes including Royal Brunei Skies Miles, hotel stays, luggage and travel vouchers. US Entry Rules for Bruneians: The US says the ESTA online application takes an average of 23 minutes and lists Brunei among the Visa Waiver Program countries eligible to enter the US without a traditional visa. Regional Visa Updates: Thailand’s visa-free tourism stay is being cut from 60 to 30 days from Sept 15 for 60 nationalities, with a one-time extension option; the change affects travellers planning trips across Southeast Asia.

Brunei Tourism & Industry: Brunei Tourism Development Department is inviting local stakeholders to submit events and programmes for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to showcase Brunei’s culture, nature and tourism experiences while creating opportunities for businesses and communities. Travel Rules (Regional): Thailand is tightening its visa-free entry: the old 60-day scheme ends September 15, with many travellers getting up to 30 days instead, and some nationalities facing different categories including Visa on Arrival. Travel Rules (Global): The US published a full ESTA-eligible list that includes Brunei, letting qualifying nationals travel for tourism/business/transit without a traditional visa. Haze & Disruption (Borneo): Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption has disrupted flights and passengers across Indonesia, while transboundary haze continues to affect parts of Sarawak and daily life. Tourism Calendar (Asia): The Asian Games 2026 in Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya region run Sept 19–Oct 4, with early competition starting Sept 10.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei Tourism Development Department is inviting local stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to showcase Brunei’s culture, nature, products and tourism experiences while creating new opportunities for businesses and communities. Regional Travel Disruption: Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption has extended airport closures and flight disruptions across western Indonesia, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers and forcing airlines to cancel or reroute services. Borneo Haze Alert: Transboundary haze from Indonesian fires has triggered emergency measures in Malaysia’s Sarawak, with residents reporting severe air-quality impacts that also reach Brunei. Thailand Entry Rules: Thailand will cut visa-free tourism stays from 60 to 30 days for 60 nationalities from Sept 15, with a one-time extension option still available via immigration. Tourism Calendar: The Asian Games 2026 in Japan (Aichi-Nagoya) run Sept 19–Oct 4, with early competition starting Sept 10—useful for travel planning across the region. Travel Authorisations: South Korea expands K-ETA eligibility to 116 countries/territories, and New Zealand’s NZeTA visa-waiver programme covers about 60 countries including Brunei. Local Prize for Travel Vouchers: NBT Toyota Brunei’s “Fuel Your Vacation Rewards” grand prize of B$8,000 went to a customer winner, with travel vouchers as part of the campaign.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei Tourism Development Department is inviting tourism stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to spotlight Brunei’s culture, nature, local products and tourism experiences while creating more opportunities for industry and communities. Regional Travel Disruption: Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption has kept Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport closed longer than expected, disrupting thousands of flights and stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers across multiple airports. Borneo Haze Emergency: Malaysia declared a state of emergency in Sarawak’s Serian district as transboundary haze from Indonesian fires hit critical levels, with residents reporting breathing issues and staying home more. Thailand Entry Rules Update: Thailand’s 60-day visa-free tourism scheme ends Sept 15, replaced by a 30-day visa exemption for 60 nationalities (plus separate 15-day categories), with tighter rules also limiting visa-free land border crossings. Travel Access Tech: South Korea released a full list of 116 countries eligible for K-ETA instead of a traditional visa, easing pre-travel authorisation for tourism. Tourism Marketing in the Region: Club Med appointed FABCOM as its APAC media agency across 14 markets, including Brunei, as brands ramp up regional campaigns.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department is inviting tourism stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to spotlight the country’s heritage, nature, local products and experiences while creating new opportunities for businesses and communities. Regional Travel Disruption: Haze and wildfire smoke across Borneo are worsening, with Malaysia declaring an emergency in Sarawak’s Serian district after air pollution hit critical levels—an issue that can affect travel comfort and outdoor plans across Brunei and nearby areas. Air Travel Shock: Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption has forced extended airport closures and flight disruptions around Jakarta, stranding large numbers of travellers and impacting regional connections. Tourism Deals & Fairs: Brunei is also set to participate in regional travel and expo activity, including a Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 offering exclusive deals and promotions, plus Brunei’s plans to showcase travel experiences at Sabah International Expo. Visitor Entry Rules Watch: Thailand is tightening visa-free tourism access from Sept 15, cutting stays to 30 days for 60 nationalities (including Brunei), which could shift regional holiday planning.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei Tourism Development Department is inviting tourism stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to showcase the country’s culture, nature, products and experiences while creating more opportunities for local businesses and communities. Regional Travel Rules: Thailand’s visa-free changes kick in Sept 15: the old 60-day scheme ends and most travellers get up to 30 days for tourism (with some nationalities on 15 days or Visa on Arrival), plus a two-times-a-year cap on visa-exempt land border entries for most nationalities—important for frequent border crossers including Bruneians. Haze Disruptions (Borneo): Severe transboundary haze linked to Indonesian fires has triggered emergency measures in Malaysia’s Sarawak, including a state of emergency in Serian after air pollution hit critical levels, with schools shut and daily travel curtailed—conditions that can spill into Brunei travel plans. Brunei in the Market: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns Sept 12–13 at BRIDEX, with 90+ booths and Royal Brunei Airlines promotions, while Brunei also plans to showcase coffee, matcha and tourism experiences at Sabah International Expo. Travel Safety Alert (Indonesia): Volcanic activity from Anak Krakatau has disrupted flights around Jakarta and other airports, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers across Indonesia.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei Tourism Development Department is inviting tourism stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to showcase Brunei’s culture, nature, products and experiences while creating new opportunities for local businesses and communities. Regional Travel Rules: Thailand is tightening visa-free tourism from Sept 15, cutting the former 60-day stay to 30 days for 60 countries/territories (including Brunei) and adding separate 15-day categories for Seychelles and Mauritius; short-term business/work stays may need visas. Haze Disruption in Borneo: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after air pollution hit critical levels (Air Pollutant Index 521), with haze from Indonesia’s fires affecting daily life and health across parts of Borneo, including areas linked to Brunei’s region. Brunei Travel Trade: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns Sept 12–13 at BRIDEX, with 90+ booths and Royal Brunei Airlines promotions, positioning it as a key feeder for inbound and outbound demand ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Cross-Border Tourism Showcase: Brunei will promote its coffee, matcha and tourism experiences at Sabah International Expo (Sept 4–6) via the Brunei pavilion and a Visit Brunei Year 2027 roadshow.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department is inviting tourism stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to spotlight Brunei’s culture, nature, local products and experiences while creating new opportunities for businesses and communities. Regional Travel Watch: Thailand’s visa-free rules are tightening from 15 September 2026: the standard tourism exemption drops from 60 days to 30 days (with some nationalities on 15 days), and visa-free land border entries will be capped at twice per year for most travellers. Borneo Air Quality Disruption: Severe haze linked to Indonesian fires is hitting travel and daily life across Borneo, with Malaysia declaring an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after the Air Pollutant Index surged to 521—prompting residents to limit outings and affecting conditions for cross-border visitors, including Brunei. Brunei Travel Trade Events: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns 12–13 September at BRIDEX (Jerudong) with 90+ booths and Royal Brunei Airlines promotions, while Brunei will also showcase coffee, matcha and tourism experiences at Sabah International Expo (4–6 September) ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027.

Visit Brunei Year 2027: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department is inviting tourism stakeholders to submit proposals for events and programmes to help drive Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to boost both domestic and international arrivals. Travel Fairs & Deals: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns 12–13 September at BRIDEX (Jerudong) with 90+ booths and Royal Brunei Airlines promotions, while Brunei also plans a Brunei Coffee Trail and Visit Brunei Year 2027 roadshow at the Sabah International Expo (4–6 Sept) in Kota Kinabalu. Regional Disruption (Haze): Severe wildfire haze continues to hit Borneo, with Malaysia declaring an emergency in Serian (Sarawak) after air pollution spiked, affecting daily life and travel plans across Brunei-linked routes. Regional Disruption (Volcanic Ash): Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau ash has extended airport closures around Jakarta, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers and disrupting regional flight schedules. Thailand Entry Rules: Thailand will cut visa-free tourism stays from 60 to 30 days from 15 September for 60 countries (including Brunei), and cap land-border visa-free entries at twice per year—important for Brunei travellers planning frequent short trips.

Brunei Tourism Planning: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department is inviting local stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to spotlight culture, nature, products and tourism experiences while creating new opportunities for businesses and communities. Travel Fairs & Deals: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns 12–13 September at BRIDEX (Jerudong) with 90+ booths and exclusive promotions, including special offers from Royal Brunei Airlines. Regional Showcase: Brunei will take part in Sabah International Expo (4–6 Sept) with a Brunei Darussalam Pavilion featuring the Brunei Coffee Trail and a Visit Brunei Year 2027 roadshow. Haze Disruptions in the Region: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after the Air Pollutant Index hit 521, with smoke from Indonesia’s fires also affecting Brunei and Singapore—while Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption has disrupted flights and stranded hundreds of thousands of travellers. Thailand Visa Shake-Up: From 15 September, Thailand cuts visa-free tourism stays from 60 to 30 days for 60 countries (including Brunei), and caps visa-exempt land border entries at twice per year for most travellers.

Visit Brunei Year 2027: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department is inviting local and national stakeholders to submit proposals for events, programmes and initiatives to help shape Visit Brunei Year 2027, with a focus on cultural heritage, nature, local products and tourism experiences. Aviation Disruption: Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption has forced Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to stay shut until 23:59 local time, disrupting about 2,300 flights and affecting more than 270,000 passengers across seven airports, with reopening dependent on updated ash readings. Regional Haze Alert: Severe transboundary haze from Indonesian fires has pushed Malaysia’s Sarawak into emergency conditions, including Serian hitting an Air Pollutant Index of 521, with smoke affecting daily life and raising concerns for travel comfort across Brunei and the wider region. Brunei Travel Trade Push: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns on 12–13 September at BRIDEX, promising travel deals and promotions with Royal Brunei Airlines among key participants. Brunei Showcasing in Sabah: Brunei will take part in Sabah International Expo (4–6 Sept) with a Brunei Coffee Trail and a Visit Brunei Year 2027 roadshow at the Brunei Darussalam pavilion. Thailand Entry Rules Update: From 15 September, Thailand cuts visa-free tourism stays for many nationalities (including Brunei) from 60 to 30 days, and also limits visa-exempt land border crossings to twice per calendar year for most travellers.

Volcanic Disruption: Indonesia extended airport closures after Mount Anak Krakatau ash spread across Java and Sumatra, with Soekarno-Hatta shut until 8.59am local time and dozens of regional services (including Royal Brunei Airlines) cancelled or rebooked. Regional Travel Risk: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after the Air Pollutant Index hit 521, as transboundary haze from Indonesian fires choked parts of Borneo and drifted toward Brunei and Singapore—prompting residents to limit outings and seek medical care. Brunei Travel Trade: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns 12–13 Sept at BRIDEX (Jerudong) with 90+ booths and Royal Brunei Airlines promotions, aiming to boost both inbound and outbound demand ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Brunei Showcasing Abroad: Brunei will spotlight coffee, matcha and tourism experiences at Sabah International Expo (4–6 Sept) via a Brunei Darussalam Pavilion and Visit Brunei Year 2027 Roadshow. Thailand Visa Update for Bruneians: Thailand’s visa-free tourism stay is set to drop from 60 to 30 days from 15 Sept for most eligible nationalities, with land border entries capped at twice yearly for many travellers (air arrivals unaffected).

Haze Emergency in Sarawak (Borneo): Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian after air pollution hit an Air Pollutant Index of 521, with smoke from Indonesian fires spreading across Borneo and reaching Brunei and other neighbours; residents reported breathing trouble and said they’re cutting trips to avoid the worst of the haze. Brunei Travel Trade Push: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns 12–13 Sept at BRIDEX (Jerudong) with 90+ booths and Royal Brunei Airlines promotions, aiming to boost inbound and outbound demand ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Tourism Promotion in Sabah: Brunei will showcase its coffee, matcha and tourism experiences at the Sabah International Expo (4–6 Sept) via a Brunei pavilion and the Brunei Coffee Trail/Visit Brunei Year 2027 Roadshow. Thailand Visa Rules for Travellers: From 15 Sept, Thailand cuts visa-free tourism stays from 60 to 30 days for 60 countries/territories including Brunei, and limits visa-exempt land border entries to twice per year (with some exemptions). Regional Connectivity via BIMP-EAGA: MinDA highlighted Mindanao’s readiness to link with ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA markets during Sabah International Expo 2026, signalling more cross-border business and tourism collaboration.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after the Air Pollutant Index hit 521, with smoke from Indonesia’s Kalimantan fires drifting across Borneo and affecting Brunei and Singapore—residents reported thick haze even at home and health impacts, with authorities warning of restrictions when readings spike. Brunei Travel Trade Push: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 returns 12–13 Sept at BRIDEX (Jerudong) with 90+ booths and Royal Brunei Airlines promotions, aiming to boost both inbound and outbound demand ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Regional Tourism Showcase: Brunei will promote its coffee, matcha and tourism experiences at the Sabah International Expo (4–6 Sept) via a Brunei Darussalam Pavilion and the Brunei Coffee Trail. Thailand Visa Rules for Travellers: From 15 Sept, Thailand cuts visa-free tourism stays from 60 to 30 days for 60 countries (including Brunei), and caps land-border visa-exempt entries at twice per calendar year—important for frequent border crossers.