Executive Summary
An online seminar co-hosted by the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam, Royal Brunei Airlines, and AJC on 27 August 2025 highlighted the country’s growing potential as a destination for educational travel. The event showcased Brunei’s unique strengths—safety, cultural richness, and warm hospitality—earning highly positive responses from participants.
Objectives and Goals
The seminar aimed to position Brunei as an ideal destination for educational trips that foster personal growth and global understanding. Organisers aimed to equip school officials and travel agencies with the insights and inspiration needed to design meaningful future programmes.
Why Brunei Captivates Students and Educators
The value of an educational trip to Brunei was brought to life through firsthand stories.
Mr. Yu Harada of Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura Junior & Senior High School shared how his students, through school exchanges and host family stays, built lasting bonds with their Bruneian peers. Emotional farewells at the airport reflected the programme’s success, with a remarkable 100% student satisfaction rate. His students remarked: “I felt a sense of closeness to Brunei”, “I want to extend the same hospitality if they visit Japan.”
Associate Professor Hitoshi Kobayashi of Tamagawa University highlighted Brunei’s educational value, citing opportunities for learning about:
- Innovative economic models and entrepreneurship
- Multicultural coexistence and Islamic culture
- Social welfare systems
- Sustainability through rainforests and ecosystems
- Practical communication skills
From the travel industry’s perspective, Brunei offers several advantages:
- A safe, clean environment that enables students to engage confidently with local communities, including at night markets
- Local companies that are eager to host student groups
- A welcoming culture marked by calm, friendly, and pro-Japanese attitudes
- Efficient logistics supported by short travel distances and minimal traffic
- Convenient Royal Brunei Airlines flight schedules that allow full use of the final day and smooth transfers to regional airports in Japan
Outcomes and Impact
The seminar’s impact was confirmed through post-event surveys: every participant reported that their understanding of Brunei had “deepened greatly” or “deepened,” and nearly 90% indicated interest in planning an educational trip. This reflects a clear shift in perception and a promising outlook for Brunei as a study destination.
Key Takeaways
- Safety and Hospitality: Brunei’s secure environment and the kindness of its people are its greatest strengths
- Unique Experiences: Programmes can combine school exchanges, company visits, cultural immersion, and nature exploration
- Transformative Learning: Trips are designed not only for sightseeing but for nurturing students’ personal development and global perspectives
Way Forward and Engagement
Participants emphasised the need for more accessible information on Brunei. Together with our partners, we will continue sharing resources to support schools and travel agencies in planning educational trips.
Number of participants: 156
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