Brunei attends Arabian Travel Market in Dubai
By Tony Alabastro

From left to right: Hj Suhip from the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Alice Choo and Joy Estrella, representatives of Pan Bright Travel Agency, Hj Omar Ali, RBA Director of Marketing and Cheryl Solon, RBA staff in Dubai

Brunei, the Kingdom of Unexpected Treasures, was recently promoted at the four-day Arabian Travel Market 2003 at Airport Expo in the merchant city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which was held from May 6 to May 9. Royal Brunei Airlines' destinations and Brunei's tourist spots described in catalogues were given out at the RBA booth manned by Brunei travel agents invited to attend the ATM exhibit.

RBA long-haul travellers were informed of a free stopovers in Brunei where they can take in the sights and sounds of the Sultanate before flying to their next destination.

Passengers travelling from RBA's Middle Eastern, European and Australian destinations through Brunei would also be given a night's stay at the 423-room Empire Hotel and Country Club.

"Dubai is a very clean city, and very systematic. There's no traffic, it offers food Bruneians like. You really shop till you drop, as long as you can afford it. The shops offer the cheapest to the most expensive, luxury goods.

Electronics are comparatively cheap. Gold is sold at reasonable price. You will enjoy the safari experience in the desert, and the good, exotic beach," said Joy Estrella, a first time visitor to Dubai.

Two hundred-year-old modern Dubai, the second largest emirate of seven in the United Arab Emirates, is actually two towns, on the banks of a creek: Dubai to the south-west, and Deira to the northeast. Deira's gold souk is the largest such market in Arabia. Cheap electronics are found in Deira's Beniyas Square.

The Brunei delegation included Hj Tali and Hj Suhip Mohammed Rais of Brunei Tourism of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Hj Omar Ali, RBA Director of Marketing, and selected Brunei travel agency representatives.

Brunei participated for the first time in the 10-year-old Arabian Travel Market, recognised as the leading travel industry event for the Middle East and Pan-Arab world.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin