Bandar Seri Begawan – The ASEAN-Korea Centre (Secretary General Kim Young-sun), an intergovernmental organization mandated to promote economic and socio-cultural cooperation between ASEAN Member States and Korea, together with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) of Brunei, will organize the 'ASEAN Community-based Tourism Program' under the theme of 'Youth Fostering Sustainable Tourism Development in Brunei Darussalam on 17-23 August 2016. A total of 22 university students from ASEAN and Korea will experience activities related to the sustainable development of the rural and eco-tourism at Seri Tanjung Homestay, which was awarded the ASEAN Homestay Standards Award in 2016.
*Community-based Tourism (CBT) is a form of tourism that seeks to empower communities to manage tourism growth and achieve community aspirations relating to their well-being, and includes economic, social and environmental sustainable development.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Yang Mulia Dr Awang Haji Abdul Manaf bin Hj Metussin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism. Also present during the Opening Ceremony was the Secretary General of ASEAN Korea Centre, His Excellency, Mr Kim Young-Sun and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea in Brunei Darussalam His Excellency, Mr Cho Win Myung,
ASEAN Community-based Tourism Program was designed to enhance understanding of the ASEAN and Korean youth on sustainable tourism development of ASEAN as well as to encourage youth-driven development of creative and implementable ideas to enhance the experience of the CBT in Brunei Darussalam. 10 ASEAN students and 12 Korean students will participate in hands-on cultural experiences such as traditional games, kite making, local fishing, boat race, cooking traditional cuisine, volunteer activities such as tree planting and environmental conservation activities, homestay at water villages, and have the opportunity to explore the pristine nature of Ulu Temburong National Park. Participating students will be given assignments to make a presentation based on their experience throughout the program, which include suggestion of new and creative ideas on further development of CBT. In order to promote the CBT practices targeting the Korean public, promotion assignments such as Social Media Network promotion with pictures and videos from their experiences will be also given.
In January 2016, ASEAN Tourism Ministers adopted the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025 of which strategic direction and actions put weight on development of CBT clusters and implementation of the ASEAN Community-based Tourism Standards. In line with the ATSP 2016-2025 as well as efforts by ASEAN in extending and implementing CBT program, the ASEAN-Korea Centre has organized the ASEAN CBT program since 2015. Last year, this program was hosted in Malaysia in which 21 Korean university students enhanced their understandings on CBT through activities including experiencing local cultures, traditional lifestyle, and volunteer activities.
H.E. Kim Young-sun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre noted that the success of the ASEAN Homestay Program in 2015 and in line with the ATSP 2016-2025, the ASEAN-Korea Centre is organizing the ASEAN Community-based Tourism Program this year. He also wished that the Program can offer the participating youth to experience ASEAN CBT as well as authentic cultures of Brunei, and develop their creative and implementable ideas which would contribute to further enhancing sustainable tourism development of Brunei Darussalam.
