Eddy (sixth from left) in a group photo with Asean Tourism Association Excellence Award winners.
Winners recognised for achievements in marketing, cultural preservation and sustainability
THE efforts of 12 industry players to elevate Asean tourism were recognised at an awards ceremony held at a hotel in Johor Baru.
The winners in diverse categories were celebrated at the 34th Asean Tourism Association (Aseanta) Excellence Awards.
Aseanta president Eddy Krismeidi Sumawilaga said the awards reflected the winners’ achievements in areas such as marketing, cultural preservation, sustainability and innovation.
“They have shown excellence in their respective fields.
“Their accomplishments reflect the resilience and creativity that drive our industry forward,” he said during his speech at the event.
The winners, Eddy said, had set new benchmarks and inspired others.
He also discussed Aseanta’s initiatives to advance tourism in the region.
These included the 2024 launch of the Asean Explorer Pass to simplify travel across the region.
The Asean Travel Exchange tourism networking event to be held this June in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, is a similar move.
The winners were honoured across various categories.
In the Best Asean Travel Article category, AboutAsia Travel took home the award while recognition for the Best Asean Tourism Photo went to the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
For the Best Asean Marketing and Promotional Programme, InterContinental Singapore came out tops.
Resorts World Genting was named Best Asean New Tourism Attraction while Raffles Hotel won for having the Best Asean Hotel Package.
In the category for Best Asean Cultural Preservation Effort, Locco Malaysia was recognised for its work.
Sunlight Air earned the Best Asean Airline Programme title while Suka Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd received the award for Best Asean Cruise Programme.
Radiant Tours and Travel was celebrated as the Best Asean Tour Operator.
Borneo Trails Tour and Travel Sdn Bhd earned recognition for having the Best Asean Eco-Lodge Programme.
ParkRoyal Collection was named the Best Asean Sustainability Programme while The Sabah International Convention Centre was named the Best Asean Convention Centre.
Aseanta Excellence Awards chairman Chhay Sivlin pointed out how the awards played a keyr role in highlighting South-East Asia’s many tourism destinations and enterprises.
“We believe that by recognising and promoting these achievers, we can inspire others towards excellence and elevate tourism in Asean.
“This year’s awards attracted an impressive array of submissions from across all 10 Asean member states.
“This showcased the passion, creativity and dedication of individuals and organisations committed to delivering unforgettable experiences for travellers.”
Sivlin added the nominees ranged from tour operators to eco-lodges.
Also nominated were cultural heritage preservation projects as well as cutting-edge digital marketing campaigns.
AboutAsia Travel founder Andrew Booth said the award reflected a focus on the unique offerings of Cambodia.
He expressed an aim to encourage people to spend their holidays in Cambodia.
Booth said his company has led responsible and sustainable travel for over 16 years in the country.
Sunlight Air chief executive officer Ryna Yvette Brito-Garcia described the award as a recognition of the company’s efforts to promote seamless tourism in the Philippines.
“We cater to beautiful islands such as Coron, Siargao and Boracay and hope to expand our reach to more countries in Asean,” she said.
The Aseanta Excellence Awards were hosted by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), Malaysian Association of Hotels and Tourism Malaysia.
