Clearer dress code needed for tourists at local mosques

A MOSQUE officer has highlighted the need for clearer regulations, following an incident last weekend where tourists were seen walking around Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque in inappropriate clothing.

The officer, who chose to remain anonymous, reported the same issue happening at the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital, despite the fact these mosques already provide the right clothing for tourists to wear.

“I do not, by any means, want to push away tourists, but I do want to remind them to respect the regulations of the mosque, specifically on the dresscode,” he told The Brunei Times yesterday.

“It would be better if the tourists are properly informed by tour guides about what to wear.”

When The Brunei Times contacted one of the travel agencies in Brunei, Freme Travel Services, a representative acknowledged the problem, but that travel agencies often bear the brunt of complaints, even though other forces were in play.

For Syuaib Sulaiman, a tour coordinator of Freme Travel Services’ Inbound Department, these “other forces” refer to independent tourists and inexperienced freelance tour guides.

“Some freelance tour guides are ill-informed and inexperienced with these procedures, and often times have attitudes,” he said.

“They feel the rules should not apply to them as they are locals, which ends up affecting the image of professional full-time guides and tour operators, because mosque authorities are quick to accuse these professionals of negligence,” he added.

In defence of the agency’s professional tour guides, Syuaib said, “Our guides are accredited tour guides, who have attended a course by Brunei Tourism, and we make sure to keep a high standard of professionality.”

“It is standard procedure that prior to entering mosques, our guides highlight the use of appropriate attire and etiquette to respect the mosque’s requirements,” he added.

The tour coordinator emphasised that only once these requirements are fulfilled can the tour proceed, and even during the tour, tourists are not allowed to break away from the group to independently tour the mosque.

Syuaib urged mosque authorities to also be extra vigilant with people entering the mosque freely, as professional guides are also doing their best to keep tourists informed of proper etiquette.

The presence of independent tourists still raises the question of whether the tourist information and signboards at the mosque are detailed enough.

Faris Fahmi, a guide from Borneo Guide, believes that the signboards are redundant, as these independent tourists should already be informed of mosque regulations, even without tour guides.

“Taxi drivers or private hire cars usually advise these tourists on what rules to follow at the mosque, and they abide by the mosque’s opening hours,” said Faris, who has nine years of experience in the tourism industry.

Michael Osborn, 29, a British tourist studying in Australia, says that he had no qualms with the regulations.

“The instructions at the mosque are quite straightforward, but this might be a different case for those not adept in Malay or English,” the backpacker told The Brunei Times.

However, another tourist, Yahya Jokeni, 51, who came from Sarawak to visit the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque, recommended that the signboard include illustrations to be more effective.

“Modifying the signboards using descriptive pictures and images is better, as pictures are universal and easier for tourists from any background to understand,” he said.

The Brunei Times