On April 15th, the head chief of the Ulu Melilas longhouse, Pehin Datu Pekerna Dewa Hj Mohd Ali Bin Abdullah Hitam signed a Memorandum of Understanding on longhouse homestay program with the SinggahRuai Resort-Rainforest Lodge, a local home stay developer. The MOU signing was witnessed by a representative from the Brunei Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.
The MOU signing was part of the working visit organised by the SinggahRuai Resort-Rainforest Lodge, a local homestay developer and KNK partner, for the Brunei Tourism Development Department, accompanied by one of the local tour operator, Panbright Travel and two local journalists.
The visit was a two day-one night package which was included in the ‘Kenali Negara Kitani’ (KNK) ‘10 must do packages’, currently being promoted by the Tourism Development Department with the support from KNK partners as a domestic tourism campaign. The itinerary includes 3 hours boat ride from Sungai Mau to the Ulu Melilas Longhouse with a stopover to the Sukang and Punan Longhouse, with a one night stay in the Ulu Melilas Longhouse inclusive of tea coffee, dinner and breakfast. Activities includes river fishing, visit to the fruits and vegetable farm plus an introduction to the longhouse locals as well as a traditional Iban ethnic ‘ngajat’ dance performance and ‘gulingtangan’ show, night safari, watching fireflies and lots more.
The Brunei Tourism Development Department calls for more joint ventures between the tourism companies and local communities in the near future. The KNK campaign has seen an encouraging increase in local entrepreneurs investing in the development of new local tourist attractions or products for the domestic as well as foreign tourists.
Pics courtesy of Fadistar.