Brunei launches ‘Nakhoda’ to steer tourism industry into the digital age

Brunei launches ‘Nakhoda’ to steer tourism industry into the digital age

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei has officially launched Nakhoda, a digital tourism platform designed to make it easier for travellers to plan and book experiences ahead of Visit Brunei Year 2027. The platform was unveiled on Monday by Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Dato Dr Hj Abdul Manaf Hj Metussin, during the Nakhoda Compass 2026 event. Developed through a partnership between Dynamik Technologies and the Tourism Development Department, Nakhoda is a digital marketplace for local operators to list travel services, offer bookable packages, and accept cashless payments. It also features an AI-powered trip planner that creates personalised itineraries based on travellers’ interests and budgets. Speaking at the launch event, Acting Director of Tourism Development Hjh Salinah Hj Mohd Salleh noted that while Bruneians have embraced digitalisation, the tourism sector remains fragmented due to disconnected information, limited online sales channels and a lack of integrated tourism data. Small tourism operators also contend with a digital divide, leaving them with inconsistent online visibility. “Our challenge is not to create more attractions, but to ensure that our tourism products are available online,” she said, adding that Nakhoda was designed to bridge this digital gap.  This digital push comes […]