Kampong Ayer in Brunei Darussalam located in the capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan is Southeast Asia’s biggest water settlement (Brunei Tourism, 2019). It is filled with a local community that has its own culture different from land settlements, also schools, shops, hospital, mosque and museum called Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery. Kampong Ayer stays on the heart of Bruneians as its own cultural heritage tourism even as the top destination for tourists. However, Kampong Ayer suffered as a poverty in this oil-rich nation with most of the residents are high-income. This article will be based on what I have experienced when I visited Kampong Ayer in 2022 and 2023.

In 2022, when I first visited Kampong Ayer as a field trip, it was a totally different experience compared to living on land as a city person myself. They have their own Kampong Ayer Walking Trail which made for tourists to see interesting places (assume chosen by the government). The wooden walkways also known as were quite narrow, some are wobbly and have some holes in it which just below the river (who knows what’s under the river). As a first timer, it was hard to walk but the Kampong Ayer locals walk normally. Furthermore, there were shops and attractions that were amazed me like Rumah Tembikar (Pottery House). Moreover, we got a chance to interview with the Pottery House’s owner where he mentioned he does not get paid from the government even though he saw a lot of tourist coming which surprised me. He continued that he got jealous of other country’s tourism development where the locals got benefit and complained that government should do something about Kampong Ayer or else his efforts seems worthless to maintain his business.

Last year, I went back to Kampong Ayer again for my Environment research on Pulau Sibungor and we had to use a boat to go there. We found that the boat costs were increased for 5 students it was BND20 but we managed to discount to BND10. My other lecturers mentioned that it used to be BND0.50 per person for boat. The rising prices founded that there were not many tourists came by to see since the development of Brunei Darussalam to modern where most Bruneians moved to land for jobs and dependent on cars. Also, the boat makers experienced low demands.

In conclusion, Kampong Ayer is one of the iconic landmarks in Brunei Darussalam and hailed as the cultural and heritage tourism assets according to the Brunei Tourism. There is a need of investigation on the local benefit contribution. I think it would better to apply Ecotourism and Community Based Tourism concept due to its nature and history surrounded Kampong Ayer.

References:

Kampong Ayer


https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2022.09.012

 

 

 

Najibah Haji Asnan / Binus Tourism Exchange Student 2028 from Brunei Darussalam