Brunei December Festival 2021 showcases 50 virtual, physical events

The Brunei December Festival (BDF) has kicked off its fifth installment with a range of over 50 virtual and physical events slated to take place for the whole month, starting 1 December.

The annual event is an initiative by the Brunei Tourism Board at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism with collaboration from various government and private agencies, foreign missions, as well as local event organisers.

Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Ali Apong at a press conference said that due to the current pandemic situation, BDF will be focusing more on virtual activities with physical events to be held adhering to the guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by Ministry of Health.

“Forty-two events will be virtual and remaining will be physical, covering areas in Islamic; Arts and Culture; Food and Culinary; Sports, Recreational and Adventure; Shopping and newest category Digital Technology and ICT,” said the minister.

The festival aims to encourage domestic tourism and promote the sultanate as a tourism destination while at the same time providing exciting activities to the local community throughout the school holidays.

Among the virtual events to be held include Virtual Hockey Clinic; 5th Brunei Film Blitz; The Tiny Lit Fest; Diskusi Komik; Virtual Cooking Class; Online Shopping; E-Sports Competition and Coding Conquest Hackathon.

Meanwhile, the physical events are such as Jawi Writing Workshop and Calligraphy Expo at Centre for Islamic Art Studies and Calligraphy of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Costume Run, and OneCity Expo 2021.

The minister further stressed that for physical activities, event organisers and members of the public are reminded to observe the Transition Phase Guidelines by allowing only visitors with Green and Yellow BruHealth; ensuring visitors and participants are fully vaccinated; conducting temperature checks at every entrance; providing hand hanitisers and practicing social distancing of at least 1.5 meters.

Meanwhile, for indoor events, organisers must make sure that the area has adequate ventilation with a capacity not exceeding 50 per cent or more than 200 people at one time.

Tourism Development Department will be continuously monitoring and conducting inspections of event locations and premises to ensure all SOPs and guidelines are met.

This article was first published on 04 December 2021 in our Weekly E-Paper issue 170More stories here

THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

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