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Brunei expects over 400,000 tourists in 2026

Tuesday, 20 Feb 2024

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Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Tutiaty Abdul Wahab in a group photo with prize recipients. - BB

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: In the short term, the tourism industry in the Sultanate anticipates that there will be over 400,000 tourist arrivals by air in 2026, bringing in an estimated BND300 million in tourism receipts from the arrivals.

Acting Director of the Tourism Development Department at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) Salinah Mohd Salleh said this during a presentation ceremony, held by the MPRT through the Tourism Development Department, to honour Bruneian recipients of the Asean Tourism Standards Awards, at its premises.

“To achieve these targets, we are working closely with current and new partners to explore new markets and launch new and improved products and packages,” she said.

The prestigious recognition was bestowed on Brunei’s entities in conjunction with the Asean Tourism Forum 2024 (ATF 2024), themed ‘Quality and Responsible Tourism – Sustaining Asean Future’ held on Jan 26 in Vientiane, Laos.

Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Tutiaty Abdul Wahab was the guest of honour at the event.

“One of the Tourism Development Department’s initiatives was to organise the first Tourism Service Providers (TSPs) Enhancement Workshop that began in February last year,” Salinah said.

“The programme aims to increase the value of product offerings, instil confidence in the products, and provide TSPs with resources to enhance their products for the tourists,” she added.

She also said, “Over the last year, we have seen improvements in services and products provided by participants. This is a small but essential step towards ensuring that the sector expands and that visitors have an enjoyable, high quality and memorable experience.”

The Asean Tourism Standards serves as guidelines for all Asean member states and regional tourism industry players in providing high-quality and excellent services to tourists, with the goal of making Asean a world-class destination in accordance with the Asean Strategic Tourism Plan 2016-2025.

The Empire Brunei stands out as the sole recipient of the Asean MICE Venue Standard in both Exhibition Venue Type 1 and Meeting Room categories.

Additionally, Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam and An-Naura Hall of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex were awarded for their excellence in the Meeting Room category.

Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam was also awarded the Asean Green Hotel Standard, while Kuala Belait was recognised as the Asean Clean Tourist City Standard, with the award already presented in Laos during the ATF 2024. Freme Rainforest Lodge was recognised for its achievement in Asean Sustainable Tourism (Gastronomy Tourism – Rural).

Certificates of participation in Tourism Service Providers Enhancement Programme 2023 were also presented to five participants – Eco Ponies Garden, Labi Coffee Farm, Lamin Warisan, Mori Farm and Roda Impian Cruise.

The programme, launched by the Tourism Development Department, aims to assist TSP in improving their products and services to meet higher standards. Its goals include establishing a distinctive selling point for providers and enhancing the value and personalisation of visitor experiences.

Salinah said, “The Asean Tourism Standards integrate and adapt various existing international and national standards, best practices and guidelines, as well as Asean member states’ protocols, to reflect common regional parameters. It recognises and rewards recipients of their exceptional service that is intended to set the standards of what is attainable and desirable in the competitive global tourism market.

“Over time, this will contribute to an overall improvement in industry standards as we work collaboratively towards mutual objectives.”

Looking at travel trends for 2024, according to Conde Nast Traveller, she added, “Travellers will be valuing deeper experiences that leave a positive impact on the environment, time spent with loved ones and wellness moments that last well after checkout.

“They will be choosing destinations carefully, take the path less travelled, slowing it down to enjoy the silence and the stars, indulging in food at new and interesting places, immersing themselves in wellness and participating in sustainable activities.” – Borneo Bulletin/ANN

Tags / Keywords: Brunei , tourism , awards

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Prepare for post-pandemic travel, tourism service providers told Brunei's tourism sector fared better than other countries last year despite travel restrictions, says MPRT minister

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — Brunei’s  tourism sector  must prepare for post-pandemic travel when borders reopen and the situation is “back to normal”, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources said on Monday

T ourism service providers must continue to develop and improve the quality of products and services, YB Dato Hj Ali said during the COVID-19 press briefing.

He added that travel  packages must be attractive for local and foreign tourists.

The minister further said  Brunei’s tourism sector fared better than other countries last year despite travel restrictions imposed during the first COVID-19 wave.

YB Dato Hj Ali said restaurants were “full” and people were visiting local tourist attractions before the second wave hit.

Hotels also reported an occupancy rate of 30 percent last year, he said.

According to 2020 data from the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, the hotel and restaurant sectors contracted 18.4 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.

“If we look at the data, travel agents still make money. For hotels, the problem is the costs are high because they have a lot of staff.

“But for travel agents, they don’t have a lot of staff so they are quite okay,” the minister continued.

Tourism has been one of the hardest-hit industries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Tourist arrivals declined 81.3 percent last year due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Only 62,000 tourist arrivals were recorded in 2020, compared to 333,240 in 2019.

As Brunei’s borders have remained shut since March 24 last year,  MPRT shifted its focus to domestic tourism  to cushion the impact of the first COVID-19 wave.

However, Brunei’s tourism sector is not expected to rebound anytime soon as the country is still battling its worst COVID-19 outbreak.

• Food security

Speaking on food security , YB Dato Ali said Brunei’s rice self-sufficiency stood at eight percent — missing the 11 percent target that was set last year.

Brunei’s largest commercial rice farm in Belait’s Kandol, which began operations in 2019, is expected to increase Brunei’s rice self-sufficiency to 15 percent by 2025.

“Phase one of the Kandol paid farm has been completed and another 145 hectares under phase two will be completed at the end of next year,” he said.

In the crop sector, the country reached 67 percent self-sufficiency in vegetables and 46 percent self-sufficiency in tropical fruits.

The pandemic has also disrupted the supply chain, including the import of livestock and meat amid a rise in domestic demand.

As of September this year, Brunei imported  13,091 cattle and 6,793 sheep from Australia, a 35 percent and 80 percent growth respectively from 2020.

This year also saw an increase in the amount of imported frozen beef and lamb from Australia with 628 metric tonnes (MT) compared to 332 MT in 2020.

Brunei reached 100 percent self-sufficiency in broiler output and egg production last year.

The sultanate also hit 81 percent self-sufficiency in the fisheries sector.

YB Dato Hj Ali said small-scale fishermen contributed to 74 percent of self-sufficiency in the fisheries sector, while  foreign investors were also involved in domestic fish production either by using fishing vessels or keeping fish in cages or ponds.

“For FDI investors, apart from meeting domestic needs, they are also focusing on the export market. Generally, production is still insufficient to meet the overall domestic demand,” he added.

He further said MPRT will continue to facilitate the import of fish from its neighbours, especially certain types of fish such as salmon.

Cross-border fish transport operators allowed entry thrice a week

Additional COVID-19 measures have been put in place for importers transporting agricultural and fish products across Brunei’s land borders.

Foreign transport operators who are bringing in fish into the country are only allowed to enter Brunei three times a week.

They will be accompanied by the Fisheries Department throughout their journey to unload the fish at Gadong Market.

“This is to ensure that food supply is not affected and at the same time, we are taking all precautionary measures,” he added.

Drivers must also undergo COVID-19 testing and wear personal protective equipment.

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Brunei Darussalam: Infrastructure snags to boosting tourist numbers

Asia | Construction

Having begun to roll out a tourism master plan that puts the spotlight on natural and cultural assets, Brunei Darussalam is targeting an 8% increase in visitor numbers this year.

Under the plan, which will be introduced in stages, the Sultanate aims to revive areas of historical significance, while also drawing visitors to its islands and nature reserves. A drop of five places in a major international survey has served to highlight the challenges the tourism industry faces, which include infrastructure deficiencies and low levels of foreign investment.

On March 1, the Tourism Development Board (TDB) said it planned to attract 260,000 visitors this year, up from the 241,426 who visited the Sultanate in 2012. The announcement came after the ministry confirmed last September that its 2011-15 Tourism Master Plan had been finalised.

The TDB’s acting director, Mariani Hj Sabtu, told the Brunei Times that the initiatives would not be launched simultaneously, “but rather over time and in comprehensive packages”. The plan is divided into two clusters, with one focusing on natural assets and culture, while the second will deal with heritage and the emerging segment of Islamic tourism.

The projects include plans to upgrade museums, establish a handicraft centre, build a sanctuary for proboscis monkeys and train tour guides. Additional initiatives that are earmarked for the capital city, Bandar Seri Begawa, include the construction of an “Airport Hub”. Under the plans, retail streets and commercial areas will be built near Brunei International Airport, while the historic area of Kampong Ayer, otherwise known as the Water Village, has been earmarked for restoration.

Other ventures include a “Discover Brunei” smartphone app that was launched last year. Coded by a local software firm, the app has 12 sections which provide information about where to stay, shop and eat in the Sultanate. In March, the company, MeSixty, also launched an app on diving in the Sultanate which features contact details for operators and photos of local dive sites.

Travel and tourism was directly responsible for BD370m ($299m), or 1.8%, of Brunei’s GDP in 2012, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council in March. The council forecast the sector’s contribution to rise by 0.6% in 2013 and increase 3.9% annually to reach BD547m ($442m) in 2023. The WTTC also noted that the industry indirectly and directly provided employment for around 5500 people last year, adding that it expected the number to reach 7000 in the next decade.

While the tourism sector has been allocated a total annual budget of $6.4m, the country is keen to boost foreign investment in its bid to drive growth in the industry.

A move to set up a planned regional ASEAN body for tourism professionals could prove useful for the Sultanate in its efforts to attract new investors if it is chosen as the location for the new secretariat, Mariani said. The organisation will be involved in a number of processes related to the sector, such as the ASEAN Tourism Professional Registration System. The TDB’s acting director told the Brunei Times she was confident that Brunei could garner added credibility and a new level of professionalism which would, in turn, help promote FDI, if the country is given the opportunity to house the secretariat.

However, while its plans for the industry are moving forward, the Sultanate recently dropped to 72nd place on the list of 140 countries featured in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) latest “Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index”, released in March. Brunei Darussalam performed poorly in the “cultural resources”, “prioritisation of travel and tourism” and “environmental sustainability” categories, the WEF noted.

In their efforts to promote Brunei Darussalam, tourism chiefs are keen to draw visitors to its places of interest, especially the mangrove-covered islands, white-sand beaches and accessible nature reserves. They also hope to attract more divers to the shallow reefs.

However, critics say the Sultanate will first need to tackle key infrastructure and human resource deficiencies. Last December, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in its Tourism Working Group (TWG) report cited both issues as major obstacles to tourism growth. “Poor public transport services and limited aviation connectivity are the key infrastructure issues in Brunei Darussalam, with improved policies regarding landing rights seen as one of the potential solutions,” the report noted.

Connectivity was reduced last year when the national carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA), cut flights to Australia and New Zealand to concentrate on its three primary long-haul destinations of Melbourne, Dubai and London. “We have had to refocus and restructure the organisation, resulting in a slimmed down, much more efficient RBA,” Dermot Mannion, deputy chairman, told Travel and Tourism News Middle East last October.

APEC said tight restrictions on business visas had led to a need for increased visa-on-arrival facilities in Brunei Darussalam. It also criticised limits on foreign ownership of tourism businesses, which it said were affecting the industry. By loosening restrictions and offering more incentives for both foreign and domestic private sector players, the government could pave the way for tourism to play a greater part in the economy.

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Why Brunei Darussalam is getting a reputation as an ecotourism destination

Jun 19, 2018 • 2 min read

Brunei rainforest

It may be best known around the world for the fabulous wealth of its head of state, the Sultan of Brunei. But the tiny country of Brunei Darussalam , which occupies a small portion of the island of Borneo , is quickly developing a reputation as a centre of ecotourism.

It has traditionally had a low number of international visitors but saw a nearly 20% increase in visitor numbers in 2017 – many of them attracted by its famously pristine rainforests.

In Ulu Temburong National Park, Leslie Chang runs the Sumbiling Eco Village where visitors can find themselves deep in the wild just a relatively short drive from the bustling capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan . “In Brunei, we are very lucky,” said Leslie. “Seventy per cent of the land is pristine rainforest and we have very friendly people and a very safe and peaceful place to visit. The government and the Sultan are very interested in eco-tourism, and not mass beach party type tourism. From the capital, you are in the rainforest within two hours. You can easily go for a day trip although we encourage people to stay on a few nights.”

The forest teems with wildlife, especially butterflies and of course the island’s most famous species … the proboscis monkey. Leslie Chiang set up his business ten years ago and has watched as Brunei and the local Iban people have embraced eco-tourism. “The objective was to provide jobs for them because they live quite remote from the city,” he said. “They are cut off somewhat even though Brunei is quite small. There were not that many jobs for them to do. They love to talk and share with visitors and it has become a very fruitful project of community-based tourism. They are very good with the rainforest, they use it in a very sustainable way.”

The local people only ever hunted for food, never for sport, but in recent years even that hunting has been curtailed as they’ve increasingly recognised the value of conserving nature.

“The young people grow up and become guides,” said Leslie. “They know the place very well and our guests have good interaction with them. We employ 100% locally.”

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Brunei makes strides in the quest for global ecotourism prominence

Brunei Darussalam is ramping up efforts to transform its tourism landscape to an internationally recognised ecotourism destination and focusing on offering travellers with immersive experiences in the country’s pristine nature, rich culture and adventure activities.

This was said by Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Metussin yesterday in his keynote address at the round table discussion, ‘Tourism Pillar Promoting Sustainable Tourism in BIMP-EAGA Challenges and Opportunities’.

His keynote address was read by Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Haji Mohd Yusree bin Haji Junaidi.

Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf said, “Tourism can be promoted by enhancing and strengthening its sustainable tourism practices. Some of the initiatives include attracting more ecotourists and sustainable travellers; developing strong community support for low carbon footprint lifestyles and empowering locals for community-based tourism; and attaining ratings and certifications for efforts in sustainable tourism practices in the industry.”

Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf also said, “One key focus area is regenerative tourism which is a sustainable way of travelling and discovering new places. This concept allows visitors to be able to ‘give back to nature and local community’. For example, the Eco Ponies Garden is known for its sustainable farming practices with a community garden growing varieties of herbs; and one of the few that offers a farm-to-table experience.”

The Tourism Development Department recently organised an exhibition at the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery in conjunction with World Tourism Day 2023, which aligned with this year’s theme ‘Tourism and Sustainable Investments’. The Green Horizons exhibition promoted sustainable initiatives such as embracing a low-waste lifestyle and adopting eco-friendly practices.

“To harness the potential economic benefits of sustainable tourism, it is imperative for us to continue engaging in dialogue and collaboration, build networks and partnerships and create sharing and learning platforms especially to tackle the impending challenges affecting the tourism industry,” said Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf. On tourist arrivals to the country, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf said the tourism industry in the Sultanate has shown an increasing trend. Tourist arrivals during pre-COVID19 grew at 15 per cent annually, from 218,809 tourists in 2016, to 333,244 tourists in 2019.

“ Alhamdulillah , 2019 recorded the highest number of tourists arrivals. However, the unprecedented pandemic put a halt to the tourism industry and tourist arrival plummeted.

Subsequently, with the ease of border restrictions in 2022, a significant recovery was observed, as the number of arrivals increased by 907.6 per cent, from 3,543 in 2021 to 35,701,” said the minister.

Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf also said Brunei, Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) and Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Philippines are important strategic partners and have enormous potential for cooperation.

“All BIMP countries are actively engaged in the ongoing renovation and enhancement of their tourism facilities, primarily focusing on product development, especially at community-based ecotourism sites. Numerous marketing campaigns are also in progress to bolster tourism activities at these community-based ecotourism (CBET) sites. Notably, the Sister Village programme will further enhance collaboration and joint initiatives among the participating villages, including on sustainable tourism and promotional activities. However, it is crucial to get the mechanism right for us to reap the full benefit,” added the minister.

At the roundtable discussion, officers comprising tourism players from Brunei Darussalam-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region, diplomats and members of the private sector highlighted that connectivity and collaboration are crucial to open up business and investment opportunities. Officers also highlighted infrastructure development such as the proposed international airport in Lahad Datu, Sabah to acquire potentials for new market.

Sustainable tourism promotion should also be embraced by both government and private sectors. This includes putting sustainable development goal (SDG) element in their establishment in hotels and resorts like using solar power, e-vehicles to transport tourists and recycle waste management. – Azlan Othman

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Best Ecotourism Spots in Brunei

Explore Brunei Darussalam Guides

Published on July 1, 2021

Over the past few years, Brunei has quickly developed a reputation as a center of ecotourism. With 70% of the country’s land being pristine rainforests with lots of biodiversity that has been conserved, there are a lot of opportunities where you can immerse yourself in the wilderness. Interact with the locals and learn more about their long-term preservation efforts at the Sumbiling Eco Village. Learn more about sustainable farming and gardening at Eco Ponies Garden. Explore undisturbed jungles and wildlife at Sungai Liang Forest Recreational Park. With many untouched natural spots to explore and opportunities to learn about nature preservation, here are some of the best areas in Brunei to visit on your next ecotourism adventure.

Sumbiling Eco Village

Situated in the lush rainforest in Temburong, Sumbiling Eco Village is the ideal spot for travelers longing to connect with nature and experience the traditions and delectable cuisines of the local Iban culture. The locals over the years have capitalized on long-term preservation efforts, using the rainforest in a sustainable way to minimize the impacts of ecological effects on the environment. The community also loves to talk and share their knowledge of the rainforest with visitors.

Whether you choose to spend your day discovering nearby flora and fauna or floating downriver on a tire tube, or learning handicrafts such as weaving and rock painting, the Sumbiling Eco Village promises rejuvenating, engaging, and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Freme Rainforest Lodge

Experience all that Freme Rainforest Lodge has to offer, from one adventure to the next. Freme Rainforest Lodge is known for its array of great activities, including obstacle courses filled with logs, swings, climbs, zip lines across the river, and a long suspension bridge to admire the forest and listen to the harmonious melodies of nature. With the lodge situated outside of Ulu Temburong National Park , you can experience the jungle and the local people’s lifestyles that you pass by. 

Eco Ponies Garden

In Lamunin sits a quaint garden where visitors can stop by for a rest to enjoy farm-to-table meals. In 2015, Eco Ponies Garden opened as a community garden that has since become famous for its ecotourism and sustainable farming. While taking a tour of the garden, you can learn about the jungle and how to forage, cook, and farm. You’ll also learn other aspects of organic gardening, like the benefits of recycling kitchen scraps and composting. Whether you stay in one of the cottages or have a large group lunch with local ingredients, you’re sure to have a fantastic ecotourism experience here.

Ulu Temburong National Park

Also known as the “Green Jewel of Brunei,” Ulu Temburong National Park is one of the most popular untouched areas in Brunei. Located in its own private haven in the Temburong district of Brunei, visitors can connect with nature by taking a boat down the Temburong River, admire breathtaking views, and take in the flora and fauna of the pristine rainforests.

With about 40% of the Temburong area being preserved, the park is home to Proboscis monkeys and thousands of unique species of plants and animals. There are lowland forests, a jungle rainforest, and a mountain forest, making Ulu Temburong one of the most diverse ecosystems. Visitors can stay in traditional Borneo longhouses maintained by the locals.

Kampong Ayer

Also known as the “Venice of the East,” Kampong Ayer is the world’s largest water village. With homes being man-made and connected with wooden bridges and waterways, the community of over 30,000 inhabitants is intertwined with nature. The self-contained community is another symbol of Brunei’s efforts of self-preservation. Visit the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery, which features the village’s history that highlights their lifestyles. The best way to experience the locals’ daily lives is by taking a river cruise and enjoying the views of the Brunei River.

Sungai Liang Forest Recreational Park

With 14 hectares of undisturbed forest and one of the least populated areas in Brunei, the Sungai Liang Forest Recreational Park is an arboretum reserve. Being part of the Andulau Forest Reserve, the park is full of ancient teak trees and is also a mixed dipterocarp forest. A portion of the jungle has been turned into a park with nature trails and a canopy walkway in the treetops. There are many animals you can see, including plantain squirrels, Borneo gibbons, and flying lemurs.

Luagan Lalak Recreational Park

The Labi Forest Reserve is another natural reserve where you can experience breathtaking views and see various wildlife. Within the reserve is Luagan Lalak Recreational Park , a freshwater swamp that boasts a lot of lush greenery. You can stroll along the wooden walkways and immerse yourself in the nature surrounding the lake. From the park, you can make your way to the traditional Mendaram Longhouses and visit the Iban tribe that resides in the forest reserve.

With lots of efforts by the locals to preserve the jungles and forests in Brunei, it’s no wonder why Brunei’s natural gems have been becoming popular over the past few years. From learning about preservation methods from the locals to seeing natural beauties, you’ll have an enlightening ecotourism experience in Brunei.

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Billionaire Cancels Moon Tourism Trip After SpaceX Misses Deadline

"i apologize to those who were excited for this project to happen.".

Billionaire fashion entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa has canceled his much-buzzed-about space tourism flight, citing readiness problems with SpaceX's Starship rocket.

First announced in 2018 , the tourism voyage, dubbed "dearMoon," planned to carry Maezawa and ten other space tourists — a group that notably included DJ Steve Aoki — around the Moon and back to Earth. Should the trip have come to pass, it would have been the first private circumlunar trip in history.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said of the mission in a 2021 promotional clip that "we expect people will go further than any human has ever gone from planet Earth."

But pass it did not. Over the weekend, the official dearMoon account on X-formerly-Twitter released a statement announcing the " unfortunate " decision to cancel the trip. Meanwhile, from his personal account on the same platform, Maezawa placed the blame squarely on SpaceX and Musk's shoulders.

"I signed the contract in 2018 based on the assumption that dearMoon would launch by the end of 2023," wrote the Japanese billionaire. "It's a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch."

"I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time," he continued in the thread, and "I apologize to those who were excited for this project to happen."

Par for the Course

This wouldn't be the first time Muskian project timelines didn't pan out. For years now, SpaceX's many attempted Starship launches have ended in a series of delays , pushbacks , bridge crashes , and explosions ; other SpaceX projects, including its first crewed Dragon mission , have been known to experience similar slowdowns.

And it isn't just a SpaceX problem. Tesla, another Musk-helmed venture, is notorious for unfulfilled promises and extensive timeline delays . A particularly salient example can be seen in Musk's recently re-upped — though still very vague — promise that the long-awaited Tesla Robotaxi would finally be revealed in August of this year. Previously, in 2019, Musk claimed that there would be "one million" Robotaxis on the road by "2020." So!

This all in mind: as Payload  points out , other ventures banking on the success of Starship might view the dearMoon cancellation as a tentative canary in the coal mine.

Perhaps most pressingly, NASA's upcoming Artemis III mission — humanity's return to the surface of the Moon for the first time in over 50 years — currently hinges on Starship being up and running by 2026. For a rocket that's yet to launch without exploding , that's a tall order.

Anyway. Condolences are with Maezawa and his fellow space enthusiasts, as it's unclear whether there was a refund policy.

More on billionaires and space: NASA Experts Concerned Billionaire Space Tourist Will Accidentally Break Hubble Space Telescope While Trying to Fix It

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Today’s front page, Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Taiwan extends visa-free entry privilege for Filipino tourists

• Malou Talosig-Bartolome
• June 4, 2024
• 2 minute read

TAIWAN has extended for another year its visa-free entry privilege to Filipinos to further boost its tourism campaign.

Aside from Filipinos, nationals from Thailand and Brunei will also enjoy the same no-visa entry program.

According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visa exemption program for the Philippine, Thailand and Brunei tourists will be extended again from August 1, 2024 til July 31, 2025.

Tourists from these three Southeast Asian countries may stay in Taiwan for up to 14 days.

Upon arrival in Taiwan, Filipinos need to show immigration authorities a proof of accommodation such as hotel booking, provide contact information of their host or sponsor, and show proof they have sufficient travel funds.

Vessel and aircraft crew members or service personnel from the Philippines, Brunei and Thailand, who are “intending to board to report for duty” are ineligible for the visa-free entry.

Malaysian and Singaporean tourists, meanwhile, are also allowed to enter Taiwan without visas and can stay for up to 30 days.

Taiwan has been granting visa-free privileges to the Philippines since 2022.

MOFA said they have met with government agencies to assess the provisional visa measures they had earlier extended to the Philippines and other partner countries of New Southbound Policy.

In the absence of official diplomatic ties with Indo-Pacific countries, Taiwan devised the New Southbound Policy to improve bilateral cooperation with the 10 countries of Asesan, six countries from South Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. One of their measures is to  ease visa requirements to increase inbound tourism to Taiwan. 

Taiwanese agencies evaluated the “effectiveness” of the tourism promotion measures  last yearand decided to extend the privileges to the three countries for another year.

According to Taiwan Tourism Administration, there were 315,000 Filipino travelers who visited Taiwan in 2023. TTA is targeting to double that number this year. (see related story:  https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/02/10/taiwan-targets-700000-filipino-tourists-in-2024/ )

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Lisbon, a city dying from its own success

A traditional mix of authenticity, melancholy, rusticity and modernity, the portuguese capital has become a mecca for international tourism. but it has paid the price in the form of gentrification and the loss of its essence.

The symbol of Lisbon , romanticism aside, is the tuk-tuk. There are those with tigers on the roof, with plastic floral decoration, painted bubblegum pink, or disguised as a streetcar: any element that helps to stand out among the tide of tricycles ready to show thousands of tourists the five, 10, 15 or 20 things they should not miss in the Portuguese capital. The streetcar dominates on postcards and magnets, but the tuk-tuk has taken over the streets. When the two meet on the steep, narrow streets that climb up to the castle of São Jorge, historic collisions sometimes occur. The streetcars are rigid transports, incapable of deviating a millimeter from their route, while the tuk-tuks go at a brisk pace, often flouting traffic regulations to facilitate a good photograph and giving their passengers that frivolous, holiday-like feeling that they are in a carefree republic where everyone does what he or she wants. And so, without realizing it, Lisbon has joined the club of charismatic cities that now only make visitors happy.

“I think it has even stopped making tourists happy. There are people who came years ago and, when they have recently returned, they have found that it’s not the same,” says Tânia Correia. Lisbon was born in the place where Tânia grew up, the castle of São Jorge, a military fortress located on a hill overlooking the Tagus River that served as a protecter first of Islam and then of Christianity. On its slopes was built the Mouraría, a labyrinthine ghetto to house the Muslim inhabitants when the city was conquered by Afonso Henriques in 1147, and where now residents of 50 nationalities live together.

The Mouraría is one of the six historic neighborhoods belonging to the Junta de Freguesía de Santa Maria Maior (of 10,000 inhabitants). Six jewel-like neighborhoods (Castelo, Mouraría, Alfama, Chiado, Sé, and Baixa), steeped in history and culture, are now the favorite streets of real estate investors, tourist entrepreneurs, and tuk-tuk drivers. The cool Lisbon of hanging clothes, tiles, and colorful facades that last year was declared the best urban destination in Europe at the World Travel Awards. The Lisbon that has lost about 30% of its population since 2013. The Lisbon where 60% of the dwellings are tourist apartments. If the pace of the expulsion of locals does not stop, in a few years tourists will only be able to see each other when they climb the Alfama. Gentrification by leaps and bounds.

Amid the euro crisis, while the country was under intervention, the conservative government passed a law that allowed the updating of old rents and led to multiple evictions. In parallel, the entry of foreign capital was encouraged through aggressive tax policies (retirees from other countries moving to Portugal would not pay taxes until 2020), and the creation of golden visas, which provided legal residency to non-EU citizens in exchange for real estate investments. The Chinese became the most enthusiastic property owners in Lisbon. There was one good thing: the face of the city was rehabilitated and beautified. And a very bad thing: a massive exodus of Portuguese to the periphery.

“We lost population in the last 11 years because people were forced to leave, not only because of the great economic crisis, but because the right-wing government that was in place during the Troika years applied measures that allowed people to leave, and that also coincided with the entry on the scene of an apparently harmless activity, tourist apartments , which was deeply invasive for people,” says Miguel Coelho, president of the Junta de Freguesía de Santa Maria Maior.

Six historical neighborhoods have lost 30% of their population since 2013. Santa Maria Maior is coveted by real estate investors

Such was the impact of the so-called Cristas law, which liberalized rents without much consideration, that the board ended up developing the Faces of Evictions campaign, in which evicted residents told their story. Coelho believes that its repercussion served for the socialist government of António Costa to introduce some brakes and pursue real estate harassment. In 2018 it decreed a moratorium on saturated zones and a ban on opening more tourist apartments in Santa Maria Maior, although Coelho claims this is now being done illegally. In 2023, the government approved a series of restrictive measures for these businesses that will now be reversed in part by the new center-right administration.

Even so, the board intends to combat the exodus with a Return to the Neighborhood program, aimed at people who were forced to leave in the last 15 years. One of them could be Tânia Correia, who left the São Jorge neighborhood when the owners decided to sell the building she rented in. “I wanted to buy my apartment, but horizontal division was not permitted and the whole property had to be sold. When my contract ended, they didn’t renew me,” she recalls. Correia grew up in one of the houses built inside the walls of São Jorge castle, where she also wanted to see her son grow up. Although five years ago she had to move to Buraca, on the outskirts of the capital, and now has to commute an hour on public transport to get to her job at a multinational insurance company in downtown, the castle is still her neighborhood. Her mother, who now knows only a few of her neighbors, remains there. “I can understand that we need to sell our country to capitalize it because we are poor, but it can be sold to attract luxury tourism and not low-cost tourism,” she adds.

The law prevents the eviction of elderly residents, but everything else is market-driven. Where once there were tenement houses there are now tourist apartments. Where there used to be the mercearia, the old-fashioned grocery store, there is now a modern bar. Community life, which was structured around the school, small businesses, and neighborhood associations, is languishing, although the nostalgic diaspora return every weekend.

In 2023 Portugal received more tourists (30 million) and revenues (€25 billion) than ever before. And Lisbon is a must-stop, one of those cities that have gained charisma as much by the real — its geographical and urban uniqueness — as by the imaginary. If it is a city mourned, longed for, loved, and recreated by Amália Rodrigues, Fernando Pessoa, Antonio Tabucchi or Antonio Muñoz Molina, how can it not captivate the 700,000 cruise ship passengers who last year took a quick tour to taste a port, photograph Liberty Avenue from the top of Eduardo VII Park, and be dazzled by the reflections of the sun on the tiles?

Visitors now enter new stores made to look like old ones as the real ones disappear. Casa Senna recently closed after 189 years of operation in Chiado, as did the Ferin bookshop. Being one of the most beautiful and the second oldest — it was founded in 1840 — did not save it from disaster. In the disputed heart of tourists there is only room for one historic bookstore. And none, no matter how old, can compete with Bertrand, opened in 1732 and therefore, according to Guinness, the oldest bookstore in the world. A few meters away, the historic Paris in Lisbon, which offers linen and cotton table and bed linen, has put up a sign to warn groups not to crowd in front of its shop window. Opened in the 19th century, it is one of the few traditional stores still standing in the Chiado, amid the fever of stores selling pastéis de nata, magnets, and pastéis de bacalhau.

When I go to Baixa or Chiado, I feel like I’m in an amusement park for foreigners. Almost everything is international brand stores or souvenir stores. Tourism has decimated everything Pedro Martins Barata, president of the Academia de Amadores de Música

Vintage is on the rise as a decoration for tourists. The traditional has been displaced. Bad times for a cultural institution like the Academia de Amadores de Música, founded in 1884 in the center of Lisbon and forced to leave its current headquarters on Rua Nova da Trindade within a year. After dodging the effects of the Cristas law for a decade, the owners took advantage of a loophole in 2023 to raise the monthly rent from €540 to €3,800. “Only with a patron could we afford the rents in the area,” maintains its president, Pedro Martins Barata.

The Academy is part of Lisbon’s cultural and political history. Among its members were writers José Saramago and José Cardoso Pires, and among its professors, great composers. Perhaps without the Academy there would not have been Madredeus, the group that triumphed all over the world with its vindication of a traditional music outside of fado, since both vocalist Teresa Salgueiro and guitarist Pedro Ayres Magalhães were trained at the school.

Like people, institutions and businesses related to culture are also pushed to the periphery. Barata loves his city but no longer recognizes it: “When I go to Baixa or Chiado, I feel like I’m in an amusement park for foreigners. The idea of Chiado as the center of Lisbon’s cultural life has disappeared. Except for the theaters and museums, which cannot be altered, almost everything is international brand stores or souvenir stores. Tourism has decimated everything.”

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