AGP Executive Report

Visa & Entry Updates: Qatar says Brunei is among 37 countries eligible for a joint Qatar–Oman tourist visa on arrival, valid for 30 days with a paid 30-day extension; China also published visa-free lists, including 50 countries for up to 30 days and 55 for 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit to a third country. Brunei Travel & Events: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 wrapped up with bookings up 16% and ticketing transactions up 15% year-on-year, plus grand prizes for lucky attendees. Culture Tourism: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2026 drew over 30,000 visitors in three days, strengthening Labuan’s push as a regional arts, culture and heritage hub. Regional Mobility & Tourism Links: Malaysia joins a multinational UNESCO bid to nominate zapin for the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, with a dossier due by March 31, 2027. Local Lifestyle & Travel Tech: MG HS Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) made its Brunei debut at The Borneo Kustom Show, adding another electrified SUV option for road trips and longer travel.

Borneo Arts Festival (Labuan): Labuan’s 13th Borneo Arts Festival (BAF) 2026 pulled in over 30,000 visitors across three days, with Deputy Minister Datuk Lo Su Fui saying the turnout shows arts and culture’s strong pull for both locals and tourists from across Brunei, Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Indonesia and the Philippines. Travel & Culture Tourism: The festival’s mix of major programmes, fashion showcases, stage performances, workshops and a street food bazaar is positioning Labuan as a regional arts, culture and heritage hub. Brunei-China ties: China and Brunei marked 35 years of diplomatic relations with cultural exchange events including “My Dream” performances and a Brunei China Food Festival, drawing more than 1,100 attendees. Local visitor draw: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 wrapped up with grand prizes and reported booking growth (up 16%) and ticketing transactions (up 15%) year-on-year. Mobility for visitors: Australia’s Frequent Traveller visitor visa stream is open to Brunei citizens, offering multiple entries and up to 10-year validity (with each visit capped at 3 months). Regional travel context: Thailand’s visa-exemption rules tightened from 60 to 30 days for many passport holders from 15 Sept 2026, so travellers are urged to check by passport before booking.

New Car Launch in Brunei: Premier Motor Co has officially launched the MG HS Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) at The Borneo Kustom Show in Bridex, pairing a 1.5L turbo petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 220kW/350Nm, plus a 24.7kWh battery offering up to 120km electric range (WLTP) and fuel use as low as 0.7L/100km. Arts & Culture Tourism: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (Sept 25–27) is positioning the island as a regional arts, culture and heritage hub, with performances, competitions, fashion showcases, workshops, handicrafts and a street food bazaar. Brunei Travel Trade: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 wrapped up with grand prizes, reporting bookings up 16% and ticketing transactions up 15% year-on-year. Regional Travel Policy Watch: Thailand’s visa exemption rules tightened from Sept 15, 2026, with the standard visa-free stay reduced to 30 days for eligible passport holders, while other nationalities face different tiers. China Transit Updates: China rolled out a 240-hour visa-free transit option for citizens of 55 countries, allowing up to 10 days in China when travelling onward to a third country. Brunei-China Cultural Ties: China and Brunei marked 35 years of diplomatic relations with cultural exchange events including “My Dream” performances and a Brunei China Food Festival. Tourism-Linked Mobility: Australia expanded its Frequent Traveller visitor visa stream (subclass 600) for regular travellers, including Brunei, with multiple-entry benefits for tourism and business.

Brunei–Thailand travel rules: Thailand’s visa-exemption overhaul from Sept 15, 2026 cuts the old 60-day scheme to 30 days for eligible passport holders, with entry now depending on nationality and even whether you arrived before the change. Labuan arts tourism: The Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (Sept 25–27) is positioning Labuan as a regional arts, culture and heritage hub, with performances, competitions, workshops, handicrafts and a street food bazaar. Brunei–China cultural ties: China and Brunei marked 35 years of diplomatic relations with cultural exchange events including “My Dream” performances and a Brunei China Food Festival, drawing 1,100+ attendees. Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026: Sabre Travel Network Brunei wrapped its 21st fair with reported booking growth of 16% and ticketing transactions up 15%, plus grand-prize draws at Mutiara Skyline. EV logistics push (regional, travel-relevant): Pos Malaysia says one in three parcels is now delivered by EV, supporting smoother regional mobility and greener travel logistics. ASEAN cultural heritage bid: Malaysia joins Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore to nominate zapin for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, with a dossier due by March 31, 2027. Tourism-adjacent policy: Australia’s Frequent Traveller Stream (subclass 600) is open to Brunei citizens, with a 10-year option and up to 3-month stays per visit.

Brunei-Linked Travel & Visas: Australia expanded its Frequent Traveller Stream (Visitor visa subclass 600) for Brunei citizens, offering multiple entries and up to 10 years validity (each visit capped at 3 months), plus study and approved volunteer tourism options. Regional Culture & Tourism: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival (Sept 25–27) is positioning the island as a Borneo arts, culture and heritage hub, with performances, competitions, workshops, handicrafts and a street food bazaar. Brunei-China Cultural Ties: China and Brunei marked 35 years of diplomatic relations with cultural exchange events including “My Dream” performances and a Brunei China Food Festival, plus a strategic cooperation agreement. Travel Industry Buzz: Sabre Travel Network Brunei wrapped up its 21st Sabre Brunei Travel Fair with reported booking growth (+16%) and ticketing transactions (+15%), awarding grand prizes to lucky attendees. Sustainability in Logistics: Pos Malaysia says one in three parcels is now delivered by EV, scaling an electric fleet that supports greener delivery targets—relevant for regional travel and supply chains.

Festival Tourism: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (Sept 25–27) is positioning the island as a Borneo arts, culture and heritage hub, with stage shows, dance and music competitions, fashion showcases, interactive workshops (handicrafts, batik, painting), and a street food bazaar. Travel Deals & Incentives: Sabre Brunei Travel Fair 2026 wrapped up with grand prize draws, reporting bookings up 16% and ticketing transactions up 15% year-on-year. Brunei Connections: China and Brunei marked 35 years of diplomatic ties with cultural exchange events in Brunei, including “My Dream” performances and a Brunei China Food Festival. Regional Mobility Watch: Australia expanded its Frequent Traveller visitor visa stream for Brunei citizens, offering up to 10-year validity (with visit caps), while Thailand’s visa-exemption rules tightened from Sept 15, 2026 to 30 days for eligible passport holders. Culture Heritage (Region): Malaysia joined Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore in a multinational bid to nominate zapin for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage inscription. Sustainability in Travel Logistics: Pos Malaysia says one in three parcels is now delivered by EV, scaling electric logistics across Malaysia—useful context for greener regional travel and transport.

Brunei–Vietnam Tourism & Halal Links: Vietnam’s FM Le Hoai Trung met Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen in New York, agreeing to boost trade, oil & gas, tourism, people-to-people ties, and halal cooperation under the 2023–2027 action plan. UNGA Travel Context: At Netanyahu’s UNGA speech, dozens of delegations walked out; the report highlights which Muslim-majority countries stayed away and why notable exceptions (UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Azerbaijan) did not join. Brunei Cultural Spotlight: China marked 35 years of ties with Brunei through events in Bandar Seri Begawan, including “My Dream” performances and a Brunei China Food Festival—good news for visitors chasing culture and food. UNESCO Zapin Push (Regionally): Malaysia joins Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore in a multinational bid to get zapin listed by UNESCO, with a dossier due by March 31, 2027—likely to lift regional interest in Malay-Muslim heritage. Visa Watch for Travellers: Thailand cut visa-exempt stays to 30 days from Sept 15, 2026 (passport-dependent), while Qatar expanded a free 30-day multi-entry tourist visa list for 47 nationalities. Australia Frequent Traveller (Brunei Included): Australia’s Frequent Traveller Stream for Brunei citizens offers up to 10 years validity (each visit capped at 3 months) for tourism and business. Brunei Capital in Travel Content: CNN featured Kampong Ayer in Bandar Seri Begawan—Brunei’s iconic stilt-water village—spotlighting life on the water.

Visa Updates for Travellers: Qatar has published a list of 47 nationalities eligible for a free, multiple-entry tourist visa to Qatar, allowing stays of up to 30 days (extendable for another 30 days) with no application fee. Frequent Traveller Access: Australia says Brunei is among 10 countries eligible for its Frequent Traveller Visitor visa stream (multiple entries; tourism and cruising allowed; study up to three months), and among 11 countries for a separate up-to-10-year frequent traveller permit (each visit capped at three months). Regional Culture & Tourism: Malaysia will join Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore in a multinational bid to nominate zapin for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, with a dossier due by March 31, 2027. Brunei-China Spotlight: Brunei hosted cultural exchange events marking 35 years of China–Brunei diplomatic ties, including performances and a Brunei China Food Festival. Halal & Travel Demand: Malaysia’s MIHAS is drawing international buyers across food, pharma, garments, and tourism-linked sectors, underlining growing regional travel and consumer interest. Brunei-Linked Travel Context: Vietnam’s foreign minister met Brunei’s counterpart in New York, highlighting cooperation on trade, oil and gas, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

UNESCO Heritage Push: Malaysia will join Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore in a multinational bid to get zapin inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, with a dossier due by March 31, 2027 for the 2028/2029 cycle—aimed at boosting global visibility while protecting the living tradition across the “Zapin Ummah.” Brunei–China Culture & Food: China and Brunei marked 35 years of diplomatic ties with cultural exchange events in Brunei, including “My Dream” performances and a Brunei China Food Festival, plus a strategic cooperation agreement—drawing 1,100+ attendees. Visit Brunei Year 2027 Tech: Dynamik Technologies won a Brunei Technology Excellence Award for “Nakhoda,” an AI tourism platform that helps visitors plan personalised itineraries and lets local operators and hospitality partners expand bookings and payments while keeping sensitive data in Brunei. Regional Tourism Links: Vietnam’s An Giang province was selected for CAEXPO’s “Charming Cities” showcase, with Bandar Seri Begawan also listed—spotlighting tourism resources alongside local products. Travel Policy Watch: Australia’s transit-without-visa rules list Brunei among eligible countries, while Thailand’s visa-exemption changes cut many stays to 30 days from Sept 15, 2026.

Digital Tourism Push: Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd won the Brunei Technology Excellence Award for AI–Tourism for “Nakhoda,” a digital trip-planning platform built with Brunei’s Tourism Development Department to help visitors design personalised itineraries and book with local operators ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Cultural Calendar: Kreative Fest 2027 is set to bring Brunei’s creative community together in a major five-day celebration, with a Kreative Fest Tour starting in November to stage smaller, more accessible events around the country. Heritage Spotlight: CNN highlights Kampong Ayer in Bandar Seri Begawan—Brunei’s historic stilt-water village—showing daily life for thousands of residents on the water. Regional Travel Context: Thailand’s visa-exemption rules tightened from 60 to 30 days for many travellers from 15 Sept 2026, so visitors planning trips may need to double-check their passport and entry dates. Tourism & Events in Borneo: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (25–27 Sept) expects 30,000 visitors and features dance, costume design, music and craft activities.

Disaster Response & Regional Mobility: Indonesia is hosting “Exercise Trident Resolve” (Sept 20–26) in Banten, with about 2,200 military and civilian personnel from 19 countries testing disaster relief, medical response and cyber/humanitarian coordination—an event that also highlights how regional preparedness can affect travel planning and logistics. Brunei Tourism Tech: Brunei’s AI tourism platform “Nakhoda” (by Dynamik Technologies) has won the Brunei Technology Excellence Award for AI–Tourism, aiming to support Visit Brunei Year 2027 with personalised trip planning, local discovery and easier bookings for visitors. Local Culture & Events: Labuan is gearing up for Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (Sept 25–27), expecting 30,000 visitors and showcasing Borneo dance, costume design, handicrafts and community performances—plus Brunei and Indonesia participation. Travel Rules Watch: Thailand has tightened visa-exemption rules from Sept 15, 2026 (notably reducing a headline 60-day stay to 30 days for many travellers), so travellers should check passport-specific eligibility before booking. Air Quality Reminder: Southeast Asia haze linked to Indonesia’s forest and peatland fires is disrupting travel with reduced visibility and health risks across borders.

Thailand Visa Update: Thailand’s revised visa-exemption rules kick in from 15 Sept 2026, cutting the headline visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days for eligible travellers (with the permitted length depending on passport and entry date). Brunei Tourism Tech: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department-backed AI trip planner “Nakhoda” has won a Brunei Technology Excellence Award (AI–Tourism), aiming to help visitors plan personalised itineraries and book with local operators ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Brunei Culture & Events: Kreative Fest 2027 is set to launch a nationwide Kreative Fest Tour starting in November, giving Brunei’s creatives more chances to perform, showcase work and collaborate. Regional Travel Risk (Haze): Indonesia’s ongoing slash-and-burn peatland fires are driving haze across borders, with impacts reported from the Philippines to southern Thailand—bad air can disrupt outdoor plans and visibility. Borneo Tourism Boost: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival (25–27 Sept) expects 30,000 visitors, with dance, costume, music and craft events drawing crowds from Brunei and across Borneo. Mobility for Brunei Travellers: The US Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program lists Brunei among eligible countries, while China’s visa-free deals with 48 countries end on 31 Dec 2026.

Thailand Visa Update: Thailand’s revised entry rules kick in from Sept 15, 2026, cutting the old 60-day visa exemption to a 30-day limit for eligible travellers (with separate tiers for other nationalities and Visa on Arrival). Brunei Tourism Tech: Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd won a Brunei Technology Excellence Award for its AI tourism platform “Nakhoda,” built with the Tourism Development Department to help visitors plan trips and book locally ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. Brunei Capital in Spotlight: CNN highlights Kampong Ayer in Bandar Seri Begawan, the historic stilt-water village home to thousands. Regional Travel Watch: Indonesia’s haze from forest and peatland fires continues to disrupt travel with unhealthy air quality spreading across borders, including reports reaching southern Thailand. Borneo Events: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (Sept 25–27) targets 30,000 visitors, with dance, costume, handicrafts and workshops—expected to draw Brunei and Indonesia visitors. Sports & Travel Demand: Indonesia deployed 5,641 police for FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 security across Jakarta and Bandung, covering stadiums, hotels, training sites and transport routes. ASEAN Trade-Tourism Link: Hong Kong signed a protocol to amend its ASEAN investment agreement, aiming for more predictable treatment for enterprises across ASEAN.

Visit Brunei Year 2027 Digital Push: Brunei’s Tourism Development Department-backed AI platform Nakhoda (by Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd) won a Brunei Technology Excellence Award for AI–Tourism, offering personalised trip planning, tour packages and bookings while keeping sensitive data in Brunei. Regional Trade & Travel Links: Hong Kong signed a protocol to amend its ASEAN investment agreement, aiming for non-discriminatory treatment for ASEAN and Hong Kong enterprises—good news for business travel and cross-border tourism planning. ASEAN Sports Tourism: Indonesia deployed 5,641 police for 16 days (Sept 21–Oct 6) to secure the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 in Jakarta and Bandung, covering stadiums, hotels, transport routes and supporter areas. Air Quality Warning for Travellers: Indonesia’s slash-and-burn peatland fires are driving haze across borders, with a “super” El Niño potentially worsening conditions—expect travel disruptions and health concerns in the region. Brunei in the Football Spotlight: DPMM FC drew 3-3 with KL City in the FA Cup quarterfinal first leg at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, setting up a decisive second leg on Oct 11. Creative Tourism Calendar: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (Sept 25–27) is set to draw 30,000 visitors, with performances, competitions and craft markets, including expected interest from Brunei.

Brunei Sports & Travel Buzz: DPMM FC held KL City to a 3-3 draw in the FA Cup quarterfinal first leg at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, setting up a decisive second leg on Oct 11 in Kuala Lumpur. Visit Brunei Year 2027 Tech: Brunei’s AI tourism platform “Nakhoda” by Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd won the Brunei Technology Excellence Award for AI – Tourism, aiming to help visitors plan trips and support local operators with bookings and payments. Brunei Creative Calendar: Legasiworks Events & Media announced Kreative Fest 2027, with a Kreative Fest Tour starting in November to bring smaller showcases around Brunei ahead of the main five-day event. Regional Air Quality Warning: Haze linked to Indonesia’s forest and peatland fires is disrupting travel plans across Southeast Asia, with smoke reaching as far as southern Thailand and affecting visibility and outdoor activities. ASEAN Mobility & Entry Rules: Thailand’s visa-free changes (from 60 to 30 days for many) took effect Sept 15, while the UK published its Registered Traveller eligibility list including Brunei. Tourism Events in the Region: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (Sept 25-27) expects 30,000 visitors, with performances, competitions, and craft markets.

Visit Brunei Year 2027 Tech Push: Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd won the Brunei Technology Excellence Award for AI–Tourism for “Nakhoda,” a digital trip-planning platform that helps visitors build personalised itineraries and lets local tourism players book online while keeping sensitive data in Brunei. Regional Travel Watch: Thailand scrapped its 60-day visa-free scheme from Sept 15, 2026, replacing it with shorter 30-day and 15-day options plus tighter rules for Visa on Arrival and land-border entries—important for travellers planning holidays across Southeast Asia. Cross-Border Tourism Links: US lawmakers advanced the Marianas Tourism Advancement Act of 2026, proposing to add the Philippines to the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program and expand eligibility to several other countries, aiming to boost travel, air service and family connections. Health & Safety for Travellers: Haze from Indonesian fires is reaching parts of the region, including southern Thailand, with unhealthy PM2.5 levels reported—expect impacts on outdoor plans and visibility. Local Culture Calendar: Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2026 (Sept 25–27) is set to draw 30,000+ visitors, with dance, costume, music, workshops and an artisan market. Sports in Brunei: DPMM FC and KL City played out a 3-3 FA Cup quarterfinal first-leg draw at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, setting up a second leg in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 11.