RB’s chief executive officer Karam Chand said that this collaboration will align RB’s marketing efforts towards building better customer retention.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, Chand lauded the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism’s (MPRT) plans to keep tourism promotion and marketing costs down via the use of information communications technology (ICT).

The CEO said the direction is a good start for Brunei to capitalise on digital marketing.

“We certainly cooperate with the MPRT, and we will continue to do that,” said Chand during the recent launch of RB’s refurbished Operation Control Centre (OCC).

Chand said RB’s current plan is focusing on digital marketing to put Brunei on the global map.

He added that the use of ICT tools would help travellers in transit to know more about the tourist spots in the sultanate.

“Our challenge is on destination awareness. The digital channel allows us to improve the destination awareness.”

“When people arrive here, they want Wifi. In the evening, there are travellers from London and the other one from Melbourne. There are a lot of passengers in transit.

“It’s important to tell them what they are looking for. It will be a great opportunity to connect with them,” said Chand.

During the interview, the CEO also said that RB will expand its fleet to meet the demand of local and foreign travellers. He said the company will receive its fifth Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner by 2018.

During the 12th Legislative Council meeting, MPRT Minister Ali Apong said the ministry will use ICT tools to promote and market tourism, adding that the allocated budget of B$250,000 (US$185,839) for tourism promotion would be sufficient in accomplishing this.

He said that the ministry is in plans to develop a system which would feed tourists with information on local attractions and places of interest upon arrival.

Meanwhile, an officer at the MPRT said in an interview last week that the ministry will come up with the system within this year to “ensure tourists are aware about tourist spots in Brunei”.

“I don’t know yet how the ICT system will work. But MPRT will work with any companies or industrial players to further improve our tourism industry,” said the MPRT officer who declined to be named.