A BRUNEI delegation recently participated in the World Islamic Tourism Conference and Exposition in Kuala Lumpur, from October 27 to 30, to promote the Sultanate as a ‘Kingdom of Unexpected Treasures’.
Dato Paduka Ahmad Bukhari bin Pehin Siraja Khatib Haji Abu Hanifah, the Director of Administration at the State Mufti’s Office, was among the guest speakers at the four-day expo. In his paper, titled ‘Islamic Knowledge Heritage Tourism’, he defined the concept of Islamic tourism as a strategy for progress which promoted knowledge, bio-diversity and cultural literacy.
Referring to the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Islamic Exhibition Gallery (BPIS), which is due for completion in 2017, Dato Paduka Ahmad Bukhari extended the hope that the gallery would gain fame as an Islamic heritage centre, which would focus exclusively on preservation work and research on Islamic culture, as well as spreading information gained from the research.
Among the Brunei delegation were officers from the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, the State Mufti’s Office, the Royal Brunei Airlines, Darussalam Holdings, and Freme Travel Services. Apart from the World Islamic Conference, the delegates also attended the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Higher Education Conference and the OIC Asia Trade and Economic Forum.
Dato Paduka Ahmad Bukhari bin Pehin Siraja Khatib Haji Abu Hanifah (4th from L), the Director of Administration at the State Mufti’s Office, presenting a book on the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Islamic Exhibition Gallery to Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz (3rd from L), the Malaysian Minister of Tourism and Culture
Overall, the response to the Brunei pavilion at the expo was positive. Among those who visited were Dato’ Seri Mukhriz bin Mahathir, the Chief Minister of Kedah; Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Tan Sri Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Tourism and Culture of Malaysia; and Major General (Rtd) Dato’ Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Brunei delegation also attended a networking dinner hosted by Universiti Islam Malaysia (UIM). A representative from the Brunei Commission in Kuala Lumpur was among the recipients of the Benevolence Award for Brunei’s support of UIM.
The post Promoting Brunei at KL Islamic tourism conference appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.