AGP Executive Report

Brunei Digital Tourism Push: Brunei officially launched “Nakhoda,” a digital tourism platform to help travellers plan and book experiences ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027, featuring an AI trip planner and a cashless marketplace for local operators. Cyber Skills & Regional Links: The Brunei Cybersecurity Association sent 11 members on a six-day learning journey to Indonesia (Jakarta and Bandung) to build regional cybersecurity ties under the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance. Edu-Tourism Collaboration: Miri is looking to grow educational tourism through a partnership with Malaysia’s MITA, exploring an integrated Brunei–Miri–Bintulu learning circuit and highlighting venues like Tamu Muhibbah. Ecotourism & Flood Resilience: Limbang’s Kampung Poyan is set to get a 250-metre river embankment project aimed at stronger flood mitigation and boosted ecotourism, with plans to draw visitors including from Brunei. Regional Travel Inspiration: A US traveller’s Southeast Asia TikTok rankings spotlight Singapore for its airport and Malaysia for food—useful “what to do” inspiration for Brunei-based travellers planning nearby trips.

Digital Tourism Push: Brunei officially launched “Nakhoda,” a digital tourism platform to help travellers plan and book Brunei experiences for Visit Brunei Year 2027, featuring an AI trip planner and a marketplace for local operators with cashless payments. Cyber Skills & Regional Links: The Brunei Cybersecurity Association sent 11 members on a six-day overseas learning journey in Indonesia (Jakarta and Bandung) to build cybersecurity know-how and partnerships across ASEAN and Japan. Education Travel Boost: Miri is moving to position itself as an educational tourism hub via a collaboration with Malaysia’s MITA, exploring joint edu-tourism packages that also include Brunei and Bintulu. Ecotourism Development: Limbang’s Santaba Jetty area is set for further ecotourism growth, with visitor numbers rising and a major RM50m development plan in the works. Creative Tourism & Community: Sarawak’s Kuching hosted a regional professional photography convention with Brunei participation, underlining cross-border creative exchange. Family Travel Demand: Agoda data shows Malaysian families are still prioritising domestic breaks, but regional trips are rising fast (Vietnam, China, Singapore, Japan).

Digital Tourism Push: Brunei has launched “Nakhoda,” a digital tourism platform to help travellers discover, plan and book Brunei experiences ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027, featuring a marketplace for local operators, cashless payments, and an AI trip planner to build personalised itineraries. Regional Edu-Tourism Link: Miri is looking to grow educational tourism as an inbound circuit, partnering with Malaysia’s MITA to develop integrated packages across Miri, Bintulu and neighbouring Brunei, with Tamu Muhibbah flagged as a key venue. Ecotourism & Flood Resilience: Limbang’s Kampung Poyan is getting a 250-metre river embankment project to boost flood mitigation and unlock ecotourism, with plans to draw visitors—including from Brunei—through community events. Education Tech Standards: Brunei and ACER rolled out new Brunei Darussalam Digital Literacy Standards (BDDLS) for Years 1–11, weaving AI literacy into the curriculum and updating ICT and related subjects to support classroom delivery. Family Travel Demand: Agoda data shows Malaysians are still prioritising domestic breaks for mid-year school holidays, but regional searches are rising fast—Vietnam, China, Singapore and Japan all up sharply. Muslim-Friendly Tourism (Indonesia): Indonesia is developing 15 provinces as Muslim-friendly destinations and launching a dedicated Muslim-Friendly Travel page on Indonesia.travel to guide travellers.

Brunei Digital Tourism Push: Brunei officially launched “Nakhoda,” a digital tourism platform to help travellers discover, plan and book experiences ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027, with local operators listing packages, cashless payments, and an AI trip planner to personalise itineraries. Visit Brunei Year 2027 Build-Up: Brunei also kicked off promotional efforts for Visit Brunei Year 2027, unveiling the official logo and mascots “Awang” and “Dayang” as a whole-of-nation push to boost tourism and economic diversification. Limbang Ecotourism & Flood Resilience: In Sarawak, Limbang’s Kampung Poyan got a 250-metre river embankment project aimed at stronger flood mitigation and new ecotourism opportunities, with plans for community events to draw visitors including from Brunei. Brunei Education for Future Tourism Skills: ACER and Brunei rolled out national Brunei Darussalam Digital Literacy Standards (BDDLS) for Years 1–11, including AI literacy, plus updated ICT and teacher guides—supporting a future-ready workforce. Regional Travel Demand Signals: Agoda data shows Malaysians are still prioritising domestic school-holiday trips, but regional interest is rising (Vietnam, China, Singapore, Japan), hinting at continued cross-border travel momentum for Brunei’s neighbours.

Digital Tourism Push: Brunei launched “Nakhoda,” a digital marketplace for local operators tied to Visit Brunei Year 2027, with an AI trip planner and cashless payments to fix fragmented online listings and help small businesses get better visibility. Education & Skills for Visitors: ACER and Brunei rolled out the Brunei Darussalam Digital Literacy Standards (BDDLS) for Years 1–11, including AI literacy and updated ICT/business curriculum plus teacher guides—aimed at a future-ready workforce. Limbang Ecotourism Boost: Sarawak’s Limbang is building momentum with the Santaba Jetty area and a Kampung Poyan river embankment project to strengthen flood protection and unlock ecotourism, with plans for community events to draw visitors from Brunei. Tourism Events in Brunei: Tutong’s Food Festival 2026 ran as a five-day push for local entrepreneurs and community-led tourism, featuring 60 vendors and food-and-beverage experiences. Regional Travel Demand: Agoda data shows Malaysians are still prioritising domestic breaks for mid-year school holidays, while regional searches (Vietnam, China, Singapore, Japan) are rising—useful context for Brunei’s inbound planning.

Digital Tourism Push: Brunei has launched “Nakhoda,” a new digital tourism platform to help travellers discover, plan and book Brunei experiences ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027, featuring an AI trip planner, a marketplace for local operators, and cashless payments to fix today’s fragmented online sales and visibility. Tourism Strategy for 2027: Brunei also kicked off the official Visit Brunei Year 2027 logo and mascots, positioning the campaign as a whole-of-nation effort to boost tourism and support economic diversification. Education Meets Future Skills: ACER and Brunei rolled out the Brunei Darussalam Digital Literacy Standards (BDDLS) for Years 1–11, updating ICT and related curricula and embedding AI literacy with an ethics-first approach—aimed at building a future-ready generation. Regional Travel Demand: Agoda data suggests Malaysians are keeping domestic trips strong for mid-year school holidays, while regional searches are rising fast across Asia, including Vietnam, China, Singapore and Japan. Visa Access Watch: A new UK entry route update lists Brunei among nationalities eligible for the cheaper ETA option for short UK visits, while others must apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

Digital Tourism Push: Brunei officially launched “Nakhoda,” a digital tourism platform that lets local operators list bookable experiences, take cashless payments, and use an AI trip planner to build personalised itineraries—aimed at fixing fragmented online visibility ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Tourism Calendar & Community Events: Brunei’s Tutong Food Festival 2026 ran June 25–28 with 60 vendors, spotlighting local food businesses and boosting community-led tourism. Regional School Holiday Travel: Agoda data shows Malaysian families are still led by domestic trips, but regional searches are rising fast—Vietnam (+85%), China (+51%), Singapore (+43%) and Japan (+43%)—with family city interest also up for Tokyo and Phuket. Limbang Ecotourism Momentum: Sarawak’s Limbang is seeing growing arrivals (about 500,000 so far this year) and plans a RM50 million development plan for Santaba Jetty to strengthen its mangrove-based ecotourism draw. Borneo Festival Watch: Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival 2026 opened June 26–28, while organisers warned rising airfares could affect attendance, though sales remain solid from nearby markets including Brunei. Entry Rules for Travellers: A UK guidance roundup lists which nationalities can use the cheaper UK ETA (including Brunei) versus needing a Standard Visitor visa, urging travellers to check their passport before booking.

Digital Tourism Push: Brunei officially launched “Nakhoda,” a digital tourism platform to help travellers plan and book Brunei experiences ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027, featuring a marketplace for local operators, cashless payments, and an AI trip planner to personalise itineraries by interests and budget. Visit Brunei Year 2027 Build-Up: The Visit Brunei Year 2027 campaign also kicked off with a logo and mascots “Awang” and “Dayang,” framed as a whole-of-nation effort to boost tourism and support economic diversification. Local Events & Food Tourism: Tutong’s Food Festival 2026 ran for five days (to June 28) with 60 vendors, aiming to grow small businesses and position Tutong for more community and tourism events. Regional Tourism Momentum: Limbang tourism in Sarawak is gaining traction, with Santaba Jetty set for an ecotourism boost as visitor arrivals rise and a RM50 million development plan is being prepared.

Visit Brunei Year 2027: Brunei is set to launch “Visit Brunei Year 2027” with a new logo and mascots, aiming to boost tourism and support economic diversification through a whole-of-nation campaign. Tutong Food Festival 2026: A five-day Food Festival in Tutong (June 25–28) is spotlighting 60 local food and beverage vendors, backing small businesses while positioning Tutong for more community and entrepreneurial events. Limbang Ecotourism Push: Limbang’s Santaba Jetty area is getting a further development plan (about RM50m) as visitor numbers climb, with the Santaba Jetty Festival 2026 highlighting mangrove-based ecotourism. Sarawak Festival Tourism Watch: Rainforest World Music Festival 2026 in Sarawak draws international performers, but rising airfares linked to the Middle East are expected to affect attendance—though sales remain steady, including strong interest from Brunei and Singapore. BIMP-EAGA Tourism Networking: Brunei’s Abdul Karim urges BIMP-EAGA to study Sarawak’s Singapore “Statos” model and consider more regional tourism offices to accelerate sub-regional development. Family Travel Demand: Agoda data shows Malaysian families are planning mid-year school holiday trips with growing interest in regional destinations across Asia.

Brunei Tourism Strategy: Brunei is gearing up for a “Visit Brunei Year 2027” campaign, unveiling its logo and mascots to kick off a whole-of-nation push to lift tourism and support economic diversification. Local Events & Food Tourism: Tutong’s Food Festival 2026 runs June 25–28 with 60 vendors, aiming to spotlight local entrepreneurs while drawing visitors to the district. Family Travel & Consumer Buzz: NBT Toyota Brunei returns to the 33rd Consumer Fair & Trade Expo (June 24–28) with promotions and family-friendly activities at ICC Berakas. Regional Tourism Momentum: Limbang, Sarawak is seeing rising arrivals (about 500,000 so far this year) and is planning an RM50m development plan for Santaba Jetty to boost ecotourism. Borneo Culture Calendar: Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival 2026 (June 26–28) opened at Sarawak Cultural Village, while organisers warn rising airfares could affect attendance. BIMP-EAGA Cooperation: Abdul Karim says BIMP-EAGA should study Sarawak’s Statos model and consider regional tourism/trade offices to speed up development. Travel Inspiration: A guide highlights Borneo as a top wildlife-focused destination, noting Brunei’s smaller share of visitors.

Brunei Tourism & Culture: Brunei’s Tutong Food Festival 2026 is running until June 28, with 60 vendors showcasing local and modern food to boost small businesses and position Tutong as a go-to spot for community events. Tourism Strategy: Brunei is set to launch “Visit Brunei Year 2027,” with a new logo and mascots unveiled to kick off a whole-of-nation push to lift tourism and support economic diversification. Regional Travel & Events: Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival 2026 opened at Sarawak Cultural Village, drawing performers from 13 countries, while Sarawak tourism leaders warned rising airfares could affect RWMF attendance. Cross-border Tourism Momentum: Limbang tourism is gaining steam, with Santaba Jetty slated for an ecotourism boost after strong visitor numbers and a planned RM50 million development plan. Family Travel & Safety (nearby): Tune Talk launched Epik+ Family Safe, a network-level parental control prepaid plan aimed at safer online time for children.

Visit Brunei Year 2027: Brunei has unveiled the official branding for Visit Brunei Year 2027, including logo and mascots “Awang” and “Dayang”, kicking off a whole-of-nation push to lift tourism and support economic diversification. Limbang Ecotourism Boost: Limbang tourism is gaining momentum, with Santaba Jetty set for further ecotourism development after reporting about 500,000 visitor arrivals so far this year and aiming to top 1.5 million by year-end. Tutong Food Festival 2026: Brunei’s Food Festival 2026 in Tutong runs until June 28, featuring 60 vendors and a mix of traditional and modern food to grow local business and community tourism. Local Events as Tourism Fixtures: Lawas MP says the Beyond Waves & Dance Rhythms Festival and Dragon Boat Regatta could become permanent highlights on the district’s tourism calendar. Regional Tourism Collaboration: Sarawak’s Abdul Karim urges BIMP-EAGA to study Sarawak’s Statos model and expand overseas offices to accelerate trade and tourism. Brunei Tourism in the Spotlight: A Brunei travel guide highlights key sights and getting-around tips, including Kampong Ayer and major attractions. Travel Planning Reminder: A roundup on travel insurance stresses the importance of filing claims for issues like delayed luggage.

Limbang Ecotourism Push: Limbang tourism is gaining momentum, with about 500,000 visitor arrivals (mainly from Brunei) recorded so far this year and Santaba Jetty set for a major ecotourism upgrade, including a planned RM50 million development plan. Visit Brunei Year 2027: Brunei has unveiled the official branding for Visit Brunei Year 2027, introducing mascots “Awang” and “Dayang” to kick off promotional efforts aimed at boosting tourism and economic diversification. Tutong Food Festival 2026: Tutong’s Food Festival 2026 runs until June 28, featuring 60 vendors and a mix of traditional and modern food to support local entrepreneurs and tourism. Sarawak Tourism Spillover for Brunei Travelers: Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival attendance could feel the pinch from rising airfares, though organisers say ticket sales remain strong, including from Brunei. BIMP-EAGA Tourism Coordination: Sarawak’s minister urged BIMP-EAGA to study Sarawak’s overseas “Statos” model and consider more regional offices to speed up tourism and economic development. Brunei Travel Planning Guide: A practical guide to visiting Brunei Darussalam is circulating, covering getting around and what to expect for travellers.

Visit Brunei Year 2027: Brunei has unveiled the official branding for Visit Brunei Year 2027, including the “Awang” and “Dayang” mascots, kicking off a whole-of-nation push to lift tourism and support economic diversification. Local Tourism Development: Tutong’s Food Festival 2026 runs until June 28, with 60 vendors spotlighting food and beverage entrepreneurs while positioning the district for more community and tourism events. Tourism Infrastructure & Partnerships: Sarawak’s Abdul Karim says BIMP-EAGA should study Sarawak’s overseas trade-and-tourism office model (Statos) and consider more regional offices to speed up tourism and economic growth. Festivals as Tourism Anchors: Lawas MP Henry Sum Agong points to the Beyond Waves & Dance Rhythms Festival and the Dragon Boat Regatta as candidates to become permanent fixtures in the district’s tourism calendar. Brunei-Linked Travel Inspiration: A practical guide to visiting Brunei highlights getting around, Kampong Ayer, and key attractions for travellers planning a slower “Abode of Peace” trip. Family-Friendly Travel Tech: Tune Talk launched Epik+ Family Safe, a prepaid family plan with network-level parental controls—aimed at making travel and everyday connectivity safer for kids.

Visit Brunei Year 2027: Brunei has unveiled the official branding for Visit Brunei Year 2027, including the logo and mascots “Awang” and “Dayang,” kicking off a whole-of-nation push to lift tourism and support economic diversification. Tutong Food Festival 2026: A five-day Food Festival 2026 in Tutong is running until June 28, bringing 60 food and beverage vendors to boost local entrepreneurship and position Tutong as a go-to destination for community events. BIMP-EAGA Tourism Push: Sarawak’s Abdul Karim says BIMP-EAGA should study Sarawak’s overseas trade-and-tourism office model (Statos) and consider more regional offices to accelerate tourism and economic development across the subregion. Tourism Events as Growth: Sarawak highlights how international events like WATCEFS 2026 in Miri drive tourism beyond ticket sales—building long-term relationships and market access. Brunei-linked culinary spotlight: A feature on chef Victor Liong notes his Brunei roots and how younger Chinese-Australian chefs are reworking heritage flavours—an indirect reminder of Brunei’s cultural ties across the region. Travel guide for Brunei: A practical guide to visiting Brunei Darussalam shares tips for getting around and planning a slower, “Abode of Peace” style trip. Toyota loyalty in Brunei: NBT Toyota Brunei’s Highest Mileage Challenge celebrates long-term vehicle reliability with nearly one million kilometres logged by a Corolla.

Visit Brunei Year 2027: Brunei has unveiled the official VBY2027 logo and mascots “Awang” and “Dayang” at Jerudong Park Garden, kicking off a whole-of-nation push to boost tourism and support economic diversification. Tutong Food Festival 2026: A five-day Food Festival in Tutong (June 25–28) is spotlighting 60 local food and beverage vendors, aiming to grow small businesses while positioning Tutong as a go-to community event destination. Lawas Tourism Calendar: Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong says the Beyond Waves & Dance Rhythms Festival 2026 and the Dragon Boat Regatta Lawas could become permanent fixtures to draw visitors beyond the district. BIMP-EAGA & Regional Offices: Sarawak’s Abdul Karim urges BIMP-EAGA to study Sarawak’s Statos model and consider more regional trade and tourism offices to accelerate subregional development. Sarawak’s Big-Draw Events: RAYS 2026 opened in Kuching with youth-led climate action, while WATCEFS 2026 in Miri brought 13-nation culinary and trade participation—plus organisers say international events drive long-term relationships. Brunei-linked travel inspiration: A practical guide to visiting Brunei Darussalam and a “Borneo” travel feature keep the spotlight on regional nature and culture for travellers.