Foreign tourists to the Sultanate were thrilled to be among the thousands of visitors at yesterday’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house event at Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam.

The annual event is an opportunity for foreign dignitaries and well-wishers to convey their personal greetings to Their Majesties as well as to other members of the royal family.

“It’s such a beautiful occasion,” said Salam Singh, who currently resides in India, but often travels to Brunei for business. “We have a Malay friend from Brunei who told us about the palace’s open day. So I took the opportunity to take my family and travel to Brunei to personally wish Selamat Hari Raya to His Majesty.

“Where we come from, it’s very unlikely to have everyone from all walks of life to gather in one place in a harmonious atmosphere - and I believe this is what His Majesty is encouraging His subjects to practise.”

The Weekend Bulletin also spoke to Venie, a tour guide at Freme Travel, who brought 20 tourists from Guangxi, China, on their very first experience of Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Brunei.

“We have created tour packages for Chinese tourists exclusively to visit Istana Nurul Iman during the festivities, and over the years our group tour has shown encouraging responses,” she said.

Benjamin Diageo from southern Philippines, meanwhile, had to wait two hours to meet His Majesty, on account of the palace gates being closed temporarily for the Friday prayers.

“But I don’t mind the wait; it was definitely worthwhile to meet and greet one of the longest-serving monarchs in the world today,” he said.

Another group of Chinese visitors, led by local translator Suzie, expressed their amazement at the large number of well-wishers queuing up to meet His Majesty.

One of the visitors said, “This is my first experience of Brunei and the palace, and I like it very much. I have never seen such an occasion where the sovereign personally invites the people to the palace to greet them.”