Well-Deserved Honour: The 18th Malaysia Tourism Awards 2012/2013

MOTAC facebook

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 February 2014 – A total of 47 awards from 12 categories were presented to those who have contributed extensively to the development of the tourism industry in Malaysia at the 18th Malaysia Tourism Awards 2012/2013, held on 20 February at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

With the theme “Mystical Rainforest”, the prestigious event was officiated by the Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and attended by more than 1,000 guests.

The Malaysia Tourism Awards is one of the highest recognitions bestowed by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to individuals and organisations for tourism-trade related excellence and performance. The winners were selected through a stringent judging process comprising industry experts with immense experience and qualifications.

Winners of the 2012/2013 Tourism Malaysia Awards: 

1. Best Local Tour Operator

This award accords recognition to tour operators registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia that have the most outstanding record in selling and promoting Malaysia. 

• Best Local Tour Operator – Inbound

o Mayflower Acme Tours Sdn Bhd

• Best Local Tour Operator – Domestic

o Pearl Holiday (M) Travel & Tour Sdn Bhd

2. Best Foreign Tour Operator

This award accords recognition to foreign tour operators that have the most outstanding record in selling and promoting Malaysia in their respective markets. 

• Best Foreign Tour Operator Southeast Asia

o Sunny Tours, Thailand

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator East Asia

o Ctrip.com, People’s Republic of China

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator North Asia

o Hanatour Service Inc., Republic of Korea

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator South Asia

o Kuoni Travel (India) Pvt. Ltd, India

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator West Asia & Africa

o Unique Choice, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator Oceania

o Asia Escape Holidays, Australia

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator Americas

o Canada One Travel, Canada

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator United Kingdom & Ireland

o Trailfinders, United Kingdom

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator Northern Europe

o Meier’s Weltreisen, Germany

•    Best Foreign Tour Operator Southern Europe

o Exotic Tours, Italy

3. Best Tourism Article on Malaysia

The award recognises the best tourism coverage and articles on Malaysia by local and foreign writers. Applicable to articles published in the year 2012/2013. 

•    Best Local Article (Bahasa Melayu)

o “Kota Keajaibanku Begemerlapan” – Sahidan Jaafar, Utusan Karya Sdn Bhd

•    Best Local Article (English)

o “Traversing Taman Negara” – Christina Chin Swee Gaik, Star Publications (M) Sdn Bhd

•    Best Local Article (Mandarin)

o “Kuala Koh National Park” – Esther Choi, Traveller’s Digest of Malaysia

•    Best Local Article (Tamil)

o No nominees

•    Best Foreign Media Article

o “One City, Four Ways Kuala Lumpur” – Primrose Monteiro – D’souza, India

•    Best Blog

o “Malaysia Asia” – David Hogan Jr

4. Best Tourism Magazine

This award recognises the best tourism magazine coverage on Malaysia by local and foreign magazines that have been published in the year 2012/2013. 

•    Local Tourism Magazine

o Gaya Travel Magazine

•    International Tourism Magazine

o Senses of Malaysia

5. Best Hotel Service

This award recognises hotels rated by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia which offer quality and excellent service to their guests. 

•    Best Hotel Service 5-star (city)

o Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

•    Best Hotel Service 5-star (resort)

o Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang

•    Best Hotel Service 4-star (city)

o Holiday Inn, Melaka

•    Best Hotel Service 4-star (resort)

o Golden Sands Resort by Shangri-La, Penang

•    Best Hotel Service 3-star and below

o Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley, Sabah

6. Best Tourist Attraction

This award recognises the best tourist attraction in Malaysia, whether man-made or natural, which has enhanced the country’s image as a tourist destination. 

•    Best Tourist Attraction - Natural Attraction/Eco-Tourism/Agro-Tourism

o Danum Valley, Sabah

•    Best Tourist Attraction - Man-Made Attraction

o Menara Kuala Lumpur

•    Best Tourist Attraction - Culture & Heritage

o Mari-Mari Cultural Village, Sabah

7. Best Tour Package

This award is for the best tour programme offered by inbound tour operators registered in Malaysia. A tour operator may submit more than one tour programme under this category. 

•    Best Tour Package – Adventure

o Green Trekkers Sdn Bhd, Selangor

•    Best Tour Package - Special Interest

o Metro Green Adventure Sdn Bhd, Penang

•    Best Tour Package – Nature

o All Borneo Connection Tours Sdn Bhd, Sabah

•    Best Tour Package - Luxury Tourism

o Borneo Nature Tours Sdn Bhd, Sabah

8. Best Tourist Guide

This award recognises the best tourist guide. All tourist guides registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia may submit their entries with a brief statement to support their entry. 

•    Best City Tourist Guide

o Rusdi Ab Ghalib

•    Best Nature Tourist Guide

o Mohd Khairul Abu Bakar

9. Best Shopping Mall

This award recognises shopping and retail outlets which fully support the efforts to make Malaysia an international shopping destination.

•    North Zone

o Gurney Plaza, Penang

•    South Zone

o Johor Bharu City Square, Johor

• East Coast Zone

o KB Mall, Kelantan

•    Central Zone

o Sunway Pyramid, Selangor

•    Sabah & Sarawak

o The Spring Shopping Mall, Sarawak

10. Best Homestay

This award recognises the best homestay which has successfully showcased Malaysian culture and lifestyle. It is open to all homestay registered with Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia.

•    Best Homestay

o Homestay Sg. Sireh, Selangor

11. Best Spa

This award recognises the best spa operators which fully support the efforts to make Malaysia an international spa destination. It is open to all spa operators registered and rated with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. 

•    Best Spa (Hotel/Resort)

o Pangkor Laut Resort & Spa, Perak

•    Best Spa (Private Spa Operator)

o Energy Day Spa, Kuala Lumpur

12. Best Restaurant

This award recognises restaurants which contribute positively to Malaysia’s image as an attractive and clean “Gourmet Paradise”. 

•    Best Restaurant - Malay Restaurant

o The 39 Restaurant, PNB Darby Park Executive Suites, Kuala Lumpur

•    Best Restaurant - Chinese Restaurant

o Golden Phoenix, Hotel Equatorial, Penang

•    Best Restaurant - Indian Restaurant

o Naan, Flavours of India, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort, Sabah

•    Best Restaurant - International Restaurant 

o Coast Restaurant, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort, Sabah

Backgrounder:

First introduced in 1987 by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, it was originally called the "Malaysia Tourism Gold Awards" but was renamed "Malaysia Tourism Awards" in 1993 to better reflect the distinction of the awards and the corporate image of Tourism Malaysia.

This prestigious award is a tribute to those who have excelled and supported the development of tourism in Malaysia. It also acts as an incentive for participants to strive for the highest level of professionalism and quality in both products and service.

The Malaysia Tourism Awards is the highest accolade for individuals and organisations, whose outstanding contributions play a significant role in the success of Malaysia's tourism industry. It has expanded from a tourist-and-travel centric recognition programme into one that encompasses all service industries and where local patronage is equally relevant.

It also honours industry players who break new boundaries to take risks in creating distinctive products and service that offer unique and memorable experiences of Malaysia.This event is held once every two years. 

-Tourism Malaysia.