THE Tourism Development Department has awarded two organisations the authority to operate the displaying and selling of local traditional arts and handicrafts at the soon-to-be opened Kg Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery, following a signing ceremony yesterday.
The parties involved in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were the Tourism Development Department, Women's Business Council and Pelangi De' Mutiara, a souvenir shop.
Witnessing the signing was Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab, who said that the ministry will work well with the stakeholders to ensure that tourists will leave with pleasant memories when they leave Brunei.
Signing on behalf of the Tourism Development Department was its director, Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed, while the Women's Business Council and Pelangi De' Mutiara were represented by President Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah Hjh Zakiah and Director Pg Datin Hjh Siti Halimah Pg Apong respectively.
To ensure visitors have sufficient knowledge before visiting the water village, all traffic will be directed straight to the gallery, said Sheikh Jamaluddin.
"You cannot separate tourism with souvenirs, they go along together," said Datin Hjh Rokiah, adding that the MoU would give opportunities to the council members to promote their own local products. She also said that it was one of the council's objectives to work closely with the ministry to develop the tourism industry.
The director said that it was an honour to be awarded with the agreement that could prove beneficial towards achieving economic diversification. "This is certainly a great step to promote tourism into the country and crucial to the development of our business as incoming tourists will be introduced to our culture and heritage, thus, would want the experience to last by buying the available local handicrafts from us," she said.
The Kg Ayer gallery is going to showcase the water village's history and how residents have lived for the past 600 years. Visitors will also be able to scan the city skyline from the centre's observation tower.
Located at Kg Lorong Sikuna, within the sights of the capital's waterfront, the centre is a $3 million project undertaken by Brunei Tourism. (AFS1)
The Brunei Times
Promoting local products: Tourism Development Director Sheikh Jamaluddin (L) and Pelangi De' Mutiara Director Pg Datin Hjh Siti Halimah (2nd R) signing the MoU and contract on Kg Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery while Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Dato Hj Hamdillah (2nd L) looks on. Picture: BT/Rudolf Portillo
Friday, July 3, 2009
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