TEMBURONG

CHANGES must be made in Temburong for the district to progress and develop, said some youths who shared their expectations for the year 2010.

Temburong need a lot of changes for it to achieve the Brunei Vision 2035, said Abdul Hamid Aji, a secondary school teacher in the district.

Renowned for its lush greenery, flora and fauna, Temburong has huge potential as an attractive destination for eco-tourism as well as centre for research, he said.

“Temburong is a big district, with rich flora and fauna. This ‘jewel’ can put Temburong on the map as a world renowned research centre, provided that there is proper exposure, promotion and research,” he said.

He said that for the district to realise its potential, it has to be accompanied by effective tourism management, as well as proper infrastructure and facilities.

“Is there a proper tourism plan for Temburong?” he asked, adding that tourist facilities such as the Tourism Information Centre is still far from meeting his expectations.

“We have Bukit Patoi Recreational Park, Ulu Belalong National Park, Batang Duri Park, but what about the facilities and infrastructure to support it? Where are the tourists’ facilities, public transportation like taxis and buses? We don’t have all these,” he added.

“As a result, we see tourists coming here disappointed. We need to improve ourselves. We need a Tourist Information Centre that can really provide all the information for tourists and skilled tour guides,” he said.

He said that a plan that integrates all the crucial elements for tourism is needed so that Temburong can deliver high quality services.

Abdul Hamid praised the Temburong District Office’s ‘Cuti-Cuti Temburong 2009′ programme, as it was a move towards creating more activities to attract visitors.

Darman Degat, 26, said that there should not only be planning, but more focus on action and activities for Temburong to develop.

Nor Hazemah Kalong said she expects the district to be more developed in terms of its economy in 2010.

“With improvements in the tourism sector, more development can be made on other aspects. These developments can bring employment opportunities to the district and prevent brain drain,” said the 23-year-old Universiti Brunei Darussalam student.

” The tourism sector is by far the easiest way to develop Temburong as it already has the foundation from the ‘Cuti-Cuti Temburong’ programme. In addition, Temburong already has what it takes to enhance itself in terms of economic development,” she added.

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