Rola turystyki w gospodarce Brunei

Abstract

The purpose of this case study is to characterize the economy of Brunei and to show the role of tourism in the sultanate. Brunei is located in Southeast Asia in the northeastern part of the Borneo Island and, based on the income per capita, is one of the richest countries (at the beginning of the XXI century, gross domestic product per capita was over 20 thousand USD), while the society doesn't pay taxes, and the social sphere is well developed. The country's economy is based on crude oil and natural gas production and processing. These account for nearly 90% of income from exports. Tourism is becoming an important opportunity to overcome the economic monoculture. This study characterizes the role of tourism in the economy based on the newest statistical data and reports published in Brunei as well as in other parts of the world. Written and pictorial materials collected during a visit to Brunei in 2008 are a valuable supplement to this layer of information. Since gaining its independence in 1984, the significance of tourism in the country's economy has gone through a rapid transformation. The tourism industry accounted for 11.6%of GDP in 2008, and according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), its share will increase to 14,1% by 2018. The number of jobs in the tourism industry increases systematically - in 1998 it employed 10 thousand, while in 2008 this number increased to 24 thousand. Forecasts show that jobs in the tourism industry should grow to 35 thousand by 2018. The number of tourists since the beginning of the XXI century has been over 800 thousand annually, while in the 1980s only a few thousand tourists visited Brunei each year. This study looks also at the factors that determine the limitations in the development of tourism. Brunei, being one of the smallest countries by area, is unique in the sense that the deciding factors are political, religious and environmental. The development of tourism in the country is hindered mainly by the strengthening Islamist ideology. Since 1991,several Islamic fundamentalist laws have been established such as dress code and prohibition of alcohol.