Promote local products to enhance tourism industry

VILLAGERS of Sg Matan who participated in the Matan Carnival 2009 yesterday said the event has helped them to promote their village products and provide side incomes for the participating vendors.

"This event helps to promote local village products and it's beneficial for me as well as I'm selling my own products," said Hjh Rosnah Hj Mahmun, a member of the village consultative council who added that such carnivals would also help to increase the economy of the village. Participating in the carnival for the second time, she told The Brunei Times that she has received a big number of buyers from the moment that the carnival was opened in the morning.

She was also optimistic that despite having to pay a rental of $35 for the whole period of the carnival, the total amount of sales expected throughout the whole period would exceed and cover her expenses.

Another participant, Juli Atum, agreed that the event helped in promoting his products and boosted his sales significantly.

Meanwhile, a participant who would like to remain anonymous, commented that the carnival would largely contribute to providing side incomes to the participating vendors and saw positive responses from the public.

"There's a lot of people coming to buy my products today, this is very good for myself and the family," he said, adding that it would help to improve the economy of the village particularly and generally, the nation if such events are regularly conducted. "At least the money is being circulated in the country rather than spent outside (overseas)," he said.

Another participant who would like to remain anonymous also expressed the same thoughts. He said, "We've seen a number of tourists attending the opening just now, isn't that good for tourism industry in the country?"

He added, tourists tend to be more interested in buying local village products than high end ones at the Sultanate's shopping complexes. (AFS1)

The Brunei Times