Preliminary Study on Tourists Expenditure Pattern in Brunei

Abstract

A small ASEAN economy like Brunei has few evident opportunities to diversify export earnings away from oil and gas. Tourism has emerged as a viable option to contribute to economic growth. It is a clean industry and a source of stable employment. This paper provides a general overview of the Brunei Tourism sector. It examines potential economic impacts of tourism and assesses its contribution to Brunei's economy. The paper investigates the tourists' profile and expenditures in Brunei's economy. A survey questionnaire was designed to collect information on foreign tourist visiting Brunei. For the purpose of this paper, the information focused on relates to the socio-demographic status of the tourists, their travelling patterns and their average expenditure patterns. The paper sets out to answer whether there are differences in the expenditure profile among different classes of tourists and the composition of tourist groups visiting Brunei. In accordance with the vision of Brunei Darussalam to promote the country as a unique tourism destination and a gateway to tourism excellence in South East Asia, some important policy recommendations on both the demand side and the supply side of the economy are suggested. The findings suggest that a holistic and integrated approach is essential approach is essential, which leverages the innovation and vitality of the private sector, and its built on the hospitality, courtesy and civic-consciousness of the public. In conjunction with this, the support of the government is essential to improve and promote the tourism industry so as to reach a higher level of achievement. In summary, the findings in this paper provide policy makers with the necessary information to implement more adequate and integrated tourism policies in increasingly segmented markets.