MALAYSIA has won three Pata Gold Awards 2012, indicating the successful branding and marketing of the country as a premier tourist destination. Tourism Malaysia won the coveted Pata Gold Awards 2012 in the categories of Marketing - Primary Government Destination for its ‘A Million Experiences to Share’ campaign, and Marketing Media - Travel Poster for its posters depicting the Orang Utan, Diving, Mount Kinabalu, Homestay and Siti Khadijah Market.
The third award was won by the Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa in the category ‘Environment - Educational Programme’ for the management of its waste water system.
Presented by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata), the Pata Gold Awards are a recognition of excellence, innovation, and the best tourism standards in Asia Pacific’s travel and tourism industry. The winners were announced by Pata on February 23, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. This year, the awards recognise the achievements of 21 organisations and individuals.
The awards ceremony will take place on April 21, 2012 at the Royale Chulan Hotel Kuala Lumpur, during the PATA Annual Conference from April 20 to 22. Some 27 Pata Grand and Gold Awards will be presented, with multiple awards going to Tourism Malaysia, Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Ahead of the show, Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) have created exclusive tour itineraries for delegates. The tours are either complimentary or discounted. Each one gives an in-depth cultural insight into the natural resources, heritage and culture of Malaysia.
Martin J Craigs, Pata CEO, said: “It is exciting for Pata to return to Kuala Lumpur. In 2001 we held the Pata Annual Conference there when the Association celebrated its 50th anniversary. We also held the 2005 Pata Travel Mart and the 2010 Pata Annual Meeting in Malaysia too. Malaysia’s many attractions and services make it a compelling venue to return to again and again.”
Delegates can enjoy a pre-complimentary half-day Kuala Lumpur tour to visit Kuala Lumpur Tower, one of the tallest towers in the world, the Perdana Botanical Gardens, the oldest and most popular park in Kuala Lumpur, and the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex. Delegates can also join a post-complimentary sightseeing tour to Putrajaya, the “Intelligent Garden City” and the federal administrative capital of Malaysia. The tour visits Seri Perdana, the permanent official residence of the present and future Prime Ministers of Malaysia; Taman Botani, the largest botanical garden in the country and a national sanctuary for the Malaysian living collection of plant taxonomy; Seri Wawasan Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge and a landmark in Putrajaya; Seri Bakti Bridge, Putra Bridge and Taman Putra Perdana (the Putrajaya landmark), one of the highest points to enjoy a panoramic view of Putrajaya. The tour ends with a dinner cruise along the large man-made Putrajaya Lake.