By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 22: Sarawakians Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Dato Sri Nancy Shukri, and local artiste At Adau were among the winners of the 6th Malaysia Tourism Council (MTC) Gold Awards.
The Awards ceremony was held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) earlier tonight.
Abdul Karim, who is Sarawak’s very own Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, led the awards list as he was named the Tourism Icon of the Year (Innovative Tourism).
Meanwhile, Nancy, who is the Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, received the Tourism Icon Inspirational Woman in Tourism.
At Adau, on the other hand, received the Gold Award Ethnic & Cultural Performer of the Year.
Overall, some 20 Sarawakian tourism entities and products won awards at the event, including Borneo Cultures Museum — Gold Award Museum of the Year, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) — Gold Award Destination of the Year (Sarawak), STB’s 25th Rainforest World Music Festival —Gold Award Event of the Year, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) — Gold Award M.I.C.E Venue of the Year, Miri City Council — Gold Award Sustainable City (East Malaysia), Sarawak Cultural Village — Gold Award Cultural Showcase & Experience (East Malaysia), STB’s Sia Sitok Campaign — Gold Award State Tourism Campaign and Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s Gunung Mulu National Park — Gold Award Preferred Tourism Destination National Park.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said during the Covid-19 pandemic, his government had rolled out the Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) packages and initiated various campaigns to sustain the local tourism industry.
Sarawak has also come up with two long-term plans that will be the blueprint for its tourism industry to recover and grow towards 2030, namely, the Sarawak Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) and Sarawak Tourism Master Plan 2021-2035.
His speech text was read by Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting at the Awards ceremony.
Amongst those present were Nancy; Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) permanent secretary Datu Hii Chang Kee; MTC president Uzaidi Udanis; and MTC Sarawak head of secretariat Dato Nellsen Young.
The full list of award winners at the 6th MTC Gold Awards is as follow:
- Tourism Icon of the Year (Innovative Tourism): Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
- Champion of Sustainable Environment & Tourism: Dato’ Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail
- National Aviation Icon: Captain Izham Ismail
- Tourism Icon of the Year (Celebrity): Azharina Azhar
- Tourism Icon Inspirational Woman in Tourism: Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri
- Tourism Icon of the Year (Government): Tan Sri Dr Ong Hong Peng
- Tourism Icon of the Year (Creative Tourism): Dato’ Seri Sharkar Shamsuddin
- Gold Award Destination of the Year (Sarawak): Sarawak Tourism Board
- Gold Award Ethnic & Cultural Performer Of The Year: At Adau
- Gold Award Event of the Year: 25th Rainforest World Music Festival (Sarawak Tourism Board)
- Gold Award F&B Tourist Choice of The Year: Starbucks Malaysia
- Gold Award Museum Of The Year: The Borneo Cultures Museum
- Gold Award Oustanding Inbound Association of the Year: Malaysia Inbound Tours Association (MITA)
- Gold Award Leadership in Tourism Development: Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof
- Gold Award M.I.C.E. Venue of the Year: Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK)
- Gold Award Water Theme Park Attraction: Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast
- Gold Award Rising Star — Ethnic Handicraft Products (East Malaysia): Agrokraf Borneo
- Gold Award M.I.C.E. Group Services: Amazing Borneo Tours & Events Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Champion of Cooperative Tourism Award: ANGKASA
- Gold Award MM2H Programme: Aramaz MM2H
- Gold Award Vacation Rental Management: AT Connection Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Integrated Convention Resort: Avani Sepang Gold Coast
- Gold Award Homestay Programme: Ayer Limau Homestay Melaka
- Gold Award Batik & Craft: Batik Linut
- Gold Award Community Spa: Boonga Spa, Perak
- Gold Award Sustainable City (East Malaysia): City Of Miri — Miri City Council
- Gold Award Excellent Contribution To Fashion & Lifestyle (East Malaysia): Dato’ Raymond Valentine Jolly
- Gold Award Beachfront Resort (Southern): Desaru Coast
- Gold Award Education Tourism: DHS Hospitality
- Gold Award Tourism Investment Service Excellence (East Malaysia): ECIB Bank Labuan
- Gold Award Tourist Nature Guide: Mohd Khairul Abu Bakar
- Gold Award Rising Star — State Foreign Investment Services: Epic Borneo (MM2H) Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Eco-Tourism Activity: Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia
- Gold Award Big Bike Adventure Event Management: FS Adventure Borneo Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Specialised Media & Marketing Services: Gaya Travel
- Gold Award Night Tourism Attraction: Gem Box
- Gold Award Tours & Travel Transportation Services (East Malaysia): Gofun Travels & Tours Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Family Boutique Chalet (Northern): Gua Kelam Chalet
- Gold Award Beauty & Wellness Spa: I-Naraz Beauty & Wellness, Negeri Sembilan
- Gold Award Tourism Apps: Johor Tourism Interchange (JTI)
- Gold Award Specialised E-Commerce & Digital Services (East Malaysia): Karuna (Sarawak) Enterprise Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Automotive Club: Kelab Pemilik Proton
- Gold Award Tourism Development Project: Kenyir Elephant Conservation Village
- Gold Award Outstanding Event Campaign: Keretapi Sarong
- Gold Award Medical & Weliness Tourism Centre: KPJ Hospital
- Gold Award Preferred Tourism Destination (East Coast): Kuala Terengganu Draw Bridge
- Gold Award Man Spa: Laksamana Spa, KL
- Gold Award Eco Adventure Tourism: Lata Kolam Air Deru Ecopark
- Gold Award Fashion Tourism: Le Fashion Secret
- Gold Award Tourism Promotion Campaign: Locco
- Gold Award Resort: Majestic Hotel Resort Melaka Gold Award Attractive State Tourism Event: Majestic Johor Festival 2022
- Gold Award Tourism Promotion Event: Majlis Bandaraya Seremban
- Gold Award Tourism Initiative Programme: Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam
- Gold Award Tourism Community Initiative: Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Selangor
- Gold Award Health and Wellness Tourism Product: Maryami Sufi Holistic Wellness Spa
- Gold Award Floating Resort: Mataking Reef Resort
- Gold Award World Tourism Heritage: Melaka State
- Gold Award Adventure Tourism Event: MEP Ventures
- Gold Award Sustainable Medical Tourism Programme: Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)
- Gold Award Shopping Attraction: Mitsui Outlet KLIA Sepang
- Gold Award Outstanding Islamic Compliance: Hotel Movenpick Hotel
- Gold Award Alternative Healing Experience: MyPapaCare Mini Spa, KL
- Gold Award Cosmetic Spa: Nanie Beauty Salon, Kelantan
- Gold Award Tourist Tour Package: Nine Island Agency
- Gold Award Attractive Borneo Tour Packages: Oscar Holidays
- Gold Award Tourist Man-Made Attraction: Panorama Langkawi
- Gold Award Business Hotel: Park Inn By Radisson Putrajaya
- Gold Award Outstanding Awareness Campaign of the Year: Persatuan Agensi Pelancongan Umrah & Haji Malaysia (PAPUH)
- Gold Award Sustainable Community Programme (East Malaysia): Persatuan Berbasikal Sarawak
- Gold Award Wellness Spa: Personality Beauty Salon
- Gold Award Corporate Travel Services (East Malaysia): Pin Sing Travel & Tours (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Luxury and Affordable Cruises Yacht Charter: Platinum Charters
- Gold Award Homestay Leadership: Hairuni@Jamilah Shukri
- Gold Award Eco Retreat Village: Premium Discovery Development Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Business Hotel (East Malaysia): Pullman Kuching
- Gold Award Kids Edutainment Centre: Pusat Sains & Kreatif Terengganu
- Gold Award Education Tourism Destination: Pustaka Raja Tun Uda Shah Alam
- Gold Award Music Tourism: Rohayati Saayan @ Royce Saayan
- Gold Award Family Eco-Tourism Destination: Rumah Hutan Terapi Bonda
- Gold Award Family Attraction: Rumah Terbalik
- Gold Award International Cruise Line: RW Cruises Pte Ltd
- Gold Award Gastronomy Experience: Sama-Sama Hotel
- Gold Award 5-Star Hotel: Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA
- Gold Award Cultural Showcase & Experience (East Malaysia): Sarawak Cultural Village
- Gold Award Scuba Diving Total Solution Provider: Scubatex Resources Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Island Resort Experience: Shun Shun Water Bungalows Resort
- Gold Award State Tourism Campaign: Sia Sitok Campaign (Sarawak Tourism Board)
- Gold Award Agro Tourism Plantation: Sime Darby Plantation Eco Garden
- Gold Award Island Family Resort: Sipadan Mabul Resort
- Gold Award Rising Star – Tours & Travel Services (East Malaysia): Smart Leisure & Travels Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Outstanding Inbound Campaign: Solidarity Association For Travel & Tours Agency Malaysia (SAFTTA)
- Gold Award Eco Tourism Resort: Taman Rimba Eko Komanwel
- Gold Award Excellent Indigenous Craft & Experiential Tourism: Tanoti Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Sustainable Spa: Teratak Spa, Penang
- Gold Award New Culture Attraction: Terengganu Culture Village
- Gold Award Eco-State Park: Terengganu State Parks Management Council
- Gold Award Holistic Spa: Terompah Spa, Kedah
- Gold Award Cooperative Hotel: The Blanket Hotel
- Gold Award City Destination Boutique Hotel (East Malaysia): The Waterfront Hotel
- Gold Award Nature Health Product: Tomowell (M) Sdn Bhd
- Gold Award Conservation Destination: Walai Penyu Conservation Park Libaran
- Gold Award Must Visit Place (Northern): Wang Kelian View Point (Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Perlis)
- Gold Award Traditional Spa: Warisan Spa, Terengganu
- Gold Award City Hotel: Win Hotel, Kuching Sarawak
- Gold Award Contribution to Tourism Research: World Research Travel Organisation (WRTO) Malaysia
- Gold Award Icon National Event Management Citrawarna: Dato’ Naspu Daud
- Gold Award Batik Designer: Yan Creation
- Gold Award Preferred Tourism Destination National Park: Gunung Mulu National Park
— DayakDaily
