Locals Make Fewer Return Visits To Temburong For Lack Of Info
By Syazwan Sadi kin

Bangar - While many locals have visited Temburong District at least once, however, they seldom make return visits partly due to the lack of exposure regarding the type of attractions available now and lack detailed information about the district in the media.

"I feel like Temburong has been marketed solely for tourists, while the Bruneian public has almost no knowledge regarding the packages offered by travelling agencies," said Norarifin Ali Hashim, a local professional photographer.

Transportation is another issue, said Norarifin, as the unavailability of public transport in Temburong and the lack of sufficient accommodation hampers visitors.

"It doesn't have to be a five star hotel, as long as there is a place to stay," he said.

"We want to visit there but we don't know how to get there," said Md Fazirol Hj Baha, 23, a student.

According to Md Fazirol during a random poll taken by teachers at the Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College (MTSSR), 10 out of 13 tourism students said that they have never been to Temburong.

Some students were not keen to visit there while others were unaware of the activities available in Temburong.

Despite this, there have been efforts at giving locals the opportunity to become more familiar with Temburong such as the Survey Camp organised by the Brunei Institute of Technology (ITB).

Liew Dee Son aka Dixson, 19, an ITB student had his first trip to Temburong three months ago to take part in a five-day practical engineering survey.

He said that although it was his first visit there, he did not have the opportunity to visit the lush rainforest places.

"Not a lot of people know about Temburong during the trip, aside that it is a place with a lot of rainforest," he said.

The district, said Dixson, needed to do more, such as adding more shopping facilities and accommodations.

Dixson, despite the limited time spent at the district, was still keen on coming back to explore areas such as Belalong and the National Parks.

Despite the lack of interest among some locals, others were still keen to experience some of the flora and fauna that the district has to offer.

Lorene Fong, a teacher said that she went to Temburong in 2005-for bird watching.

"It's not often that you get into a forest to experience untouched rainforest," she said.

She added that she hoped to make a trip to Temburong, along with some of her students, next year.

Brunei Tourism Department has taken great efforts to promote Temburong as a tourist destination in the Kenali Negara Kitani (Know Our Country) campaign.

Besides giving advice, it brought in representatives from various travelling agencies to Temburong to show what the district has to offer.

Additionally, with the establishment of the new Bumiputera main complex building earlier this year, tourists now have a place to purchase quality local products and souvenirs that symbolise Temburong's cultural identity. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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