Treasure local 'treasures'
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Ben Ng
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
THE two-day seminar covering the report and conclusion of a one-year study called Equator Asia done by Japanese tourism consultants continued yesterday with a "tour product analysis" which focused on the coordination of tourism development, and promoting and sustaining eco-cultural tourism with local "treasures".
Tenshin Kobayashi of the Evolutional Tourism Institute, who also has 30 years experience as a travel agent, spoke about eco-cultural tourism and how to sustain it. He pointed out five important players in promoting ecotourism.
Local people and their
community
Academics and
researchers
The government
Travel agents
Tourists
Kobayashi said that the local people and communities should manage the environment and execute programmes accordingly to promote tourism. Academics should gather vital information and advise accordingly, and the government should support the tourism mechanism by laying down rules and regulations.
Talking about the "five faces for applying the treasures for local development", the consultant named Selirong Island as an example of a local "treasure".
The first step is to identify the treasure which should contain a unique attraction that may appeal to tourists.
The next step involves "polishing" the treasure, which requires the conservation and development of it.
He encouraged the community to be proud of the treasure by sharing and recognising its value within the community.
He proceeded with the next step which involves communicating the treasure to the outside world, and then making the most of it so it becomes and industry.
He then talked about another important aspect of promoting local treasures, where he focused on customer (tourist) satisfaction.
"Always try to maximise present customer satisfaction, rather than look for new customers," he said.
"The important thing is keeping maximum customer satisfaction. If one customer is satisfied, gradually more will be satisfied as well."
He explained that a satisfied tourist acts as a "free advertiser" for the nation in terms of promoting local tourism. "They will speak to their friends," said the consultant. The positive comments about their experience acts as a "reliable message to their friends."
The Brunei Times
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
THE two-day seminar covering the report and conclusion of a one-year study called Equator Asia done by Japanese tourism consultants continued yesterday with a "tour product analysis" which focused on the coordination of tourism development, and promoting and sustaining eco-cultural tourism with local "treasures".
Tenshin Kobayashi of the Evolutional Tourism Institute, who also has 30 years experience as a travel agent, spoke about eco-cultural tourism and how to sustain it. He pointed out five important players in promoting ecotourism.
Local people and their
community
Academics and
researchers
The government
Travel agents
Tourists
Kobayashi said that the local people and communities should manage the environment and execute programmes accordingly to promote tourism. Academics should gather vital information and advise accordingly, and the government should support the tourism mechanism by laying down rules and regulations.
Talking about the "five faces for applying the treasures for local development", the consultant named Selirong Island as an example of a local "treasure".
The first step is to identify the treasure which should contain a unique attraction that may appeal to tourists.
The next step involves "polishing" the treasure, which requires the conservation and development of it.
He encouraged the community to be proud of the treasure by sharing and recognising its value within the community.
He proceeded with the next step which involves communicating the treasure to the outside world, and then making the most of it so it becomes and industry.
He then talked about another important aspect of promoting local treasures, where he focused on customer (tourist) satisfaction.
"Always try to maximise present customer satisfaction, rather than look for new customers," he said.
"The important thing is keeping maximum customer satisfaction. If one customer is satisfied, gradually more will be satisfied as well."
He explained that a satisfied tourist acts as a "free advertiser" for the nation in terms of promoting local tourism. "They will speak to their friends," said the consultant. The positive comments about their experience acts as a "reliable message to their friends."
The Brunei Times
Business Besides Oil
