Brunei recorded nearly 400,000 visitor arrivals in the first six months of 2026, up 7.8% from the same period last year, driven by strong growth in sea arrivals.
Sea arrivals to Brunei, Southeast Asia’s second-richest country by GDP per capita after Singapore, surged by almost 70% year on year, highlighting the growing potential of cruise tourism, Xinhua News Agency reported.
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Boats are seen traveling past Brunei's Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin mosque (R) in Bandar Seri Begawan on Oct. 4, 2017. Photo by AFP |
Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Datuk Dr Abdul Manaf Metussin said the government’s priority was not only to increase visitor numbers but also to raise the economic value generated by each tourist, Borneo Bulletin reported.
Although the average hotel stay fell from about three days to two days, hotel revenue rose around 17%, from approximately BND17 million (US$13.3 million) to BND20 million.
Brunei, known for its vast oil and gas wealth, absolute monarchy led by a wealthy Sultan, and pristine rainforests, recorded 763,375 tourist arrivals in 2025, marking a 13% increase compared to 2024.