Penang, Muar, Langkawi win clean tourist cities award at Asean tourism forum

George Town, Muar and Langkawi were honoured for their commitment to being clean tourist cities at the recent Asean Tourism Standard Awards in Preah Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

The local councils of the respective cities – Penang Island City Council, Muar Municipal Council and Langkawi Municipal Council Tourism City – won in the Asean Clean Tourist City Standard category.

The awards were held in conjunction with the recent Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2022.

The three cities were part of 14 Malaysians winners, that also included hotels and tourist attractions. Winners were selected based on their outstanding compliance of the Asean Tourism Standards.

Malaysian tourism stakeholders also won in the Green Hotel Standard, MICE Venue Standard and Sustainable Tourism Standard categories.

In a statement, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry said the ten Asean member countries have deemed tourism service standardisation essential for improving the quality of tourism products and services.

"In accordance with the Asean Strategic Tourism Plan 2016-2025, the Asean Tourism Standard is also a standard for all Asean member countries, and regional tourism industry players to use as a guide in providing high-quality and excellent service delivery to tourists which aims to make Asean an excellent destination on a global scale," said the ministry.

These eight tourism standards under the auspices of Asean National Tourism Organizations are: Green Hotel Standard, Spa Services Standard, Clean Tourist City Standard, Community Based Tourism Standard, Homestay Standard, Public Toilet Standard, MICE Venue Standard and Sustainable Tourism Standard.

Here's the complete list of Malaysian winners at the Asean Tourism Awards 2022:

Asean Clean Tourist City Standard (2022-2024)

Penang Island City Council

Muar Municipal Council

Langkawi Municipal Council Tourism City

Asean Green Hotel Standard (2022-2024)

Mandarin Oriental (Kuala Lumpur)

The Datai Langkawi (Kedah)

Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa (Penang)

Golden Sand Resort by Shangri-La (Penang)

Asean MICE Venue Standard (Meeting Room) (2022-2024)

Four Points by Sheraton Puchong (Selangor)

Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson (Negri Sembilan)

Le Meridien Hotel Putrajaya (Putrajaya)

Doubletree by Hilton Melaka (Melaka)

Shangri-la Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa (Penang)

Asean Sustainable Tourism Standard (2022-2023)

Urban Category - The Habitat Penang Hill (Penang)

Rural Category - Walai Penyu Conservation Park, Libaran (Sabah)