• Today: October 27, 2026

‘Diverse potential available at community level’

Through a network of 39 Mukim and more than 217 Village Consultative Councils across the four districts, it is clear that there is a diversity of potential at the community level. This potential includes nature-based recreational activities, demonstrations of cultural arts and heritage crafts, culinary and traditional food, handicrafts, and various other experiences rooted in the identity and uniqueness of each mukim and village.

The success of the One Village, One Product (1K1P) initiative under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs also proves that such potential can be translated into valuable economic activities. With 160 Mukim and Village Consultative Council entrepreneurs recording sales values exceeding BND2 million from 2025 to the middle of this year, this achievement clearly shows that the community has a strong economic foundation and platform to move to the next phase.

This was highlighted by Permanent Secretary (Community Welfare) at the Ministry of Home Affairs Salminan bin Haji Burut in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the two-day Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Workshop at Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah yesterday.

However, he shared that “efforts to form and develop CBT enterprises need to go hand in hand with organisational readiness and effective community management capabilities. At the same time, communities also need to pay attention to leadership development and the provision of successors from the new generation. This aspect is very important to ensure the continuity of leadership, knowledge, skills and enterprises that have been developed can be maintained in the long term”.

In an effort to develop CBT activities, he emphasised, “there are still various challenges that need to be overcome. These include providing financial capital for the development of CBT enterprises, limited skills in hospitality and financial management, regulatory compliance, public safety and well-being, and inadequate infrastructure which can affect the comfort of tourists. In addition, issues of unstable leadership, governance, and community organisational structures also hinder the effective implementation of CBT.”

He said that “the opportunities in the CBT sector in Brunei Darussalam are vast”. Among the main opportunities that need to be explored and exploited by village communities include, firstly, active youth participation, noting that “young people are an important asset in bringing fresh perspectives, creativity, innovation and technical skills, particularly in the areas of digital technology, marketing and communications. Their meaningful involvement in the management of CBT will not only strengthen community capacity but also ensure the development of dynamic and sustainable future leadership”.

Second is the transformation towards social enterprise. He explained, “the 1K1P projects and CBT initiatives have the potential to be developed into social enterprise models that can create employment opportunities for local residents and generate sustainable income, while reinvesting part of the benefits into the development, well-being and welfare of the community. This approach is important to ensure that the success of an enterprise is measured not only by its profitability, but also by its social value, community empowerment and long-term benefits to the mukim and village.”

Third is digitalisation and expanded marketing. He shared that “the use of information technology, social media, digital platforms and digital payment systems can create new opportunities for community enterprises to expand their market reach. With appropriate digitalisation strategies and the use of various channels, including social media, influencers and dedicated websites, CBT experiences have the potential to be promoted to wider markets, including domestic and international tourists. In this regard, the community’s ability to produce engaging digital content, manage bookings and interact with visitors will also become increasingly important.”

The permanent secretary also stressed the involvement of academics, noting that higher education institutions can serve as strategic policy partners in strengthening the CBT ecosystem through evidence-based policy research, the collection, analysis and sharing of data and information related to CBT activities, the documentation and publication of outcomes, experiences and best practices of CBT enterprises in Brunei Darussalam, and the provision of research-based input, expertise and analysis to support planning, decision-making and policy formulation. Such collaboration, he stressed, “is important to ensure that CBT development is driven not only by aspirations and good ideas, but also supported by data, knowledge and evidence that can help us make more informed and effective decisions.”

He added, “There is no denying that the development of CBT is not something that can be achieved within a short period of time. Rather, it is an ongoing process that requires patience, commitment, continuous learning and close cooperation among all stakeholders. Strategic collaboration between the District Offices, Tourism Development Department, village communities, educational institutions and the private sector is essential in creating an ecosystem capable of driving inclusive, resilient and sustainable rural economic development. The whole-of-nation approach, which forms the foundation of this workshop, must be translated not only into discussions, but also into the sharing of responsibilities, resources and expertise, as well as concrete and meaningful action.” 

Permanent Secretary (Community Welfare) at the Ministry of Home Affairs Salminan bin Haji Burut speaks at the event. PHOTO: SIM Y H
A section of the attendees. PHOTO: SIM Y H

 

SOURCE/AUTHOR : BORNEO BULLETIN/JAMES KON

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