Sarawak's Tourism Development Awarded at Hornbill Tourism Appreciation

OUTSTANDING contributions to Sarawak’s tourism industry were honoured at the Hornbill Tourism Appreciation Awards in Kuching recently.

The awards were organised by the Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) in collaboration with the state Urban Development and Tourism Ministry, Sarawak Tourism Board and Tourism Malaysia.

Elegant: Raymond Jolly and Aaron George posing with their models at the end of their fashion show.

A total of 368 entries were received for 15 categories of the awards

For the first time, a Model Toilet award was given to encourage a high standard of cleanliness. This award went to the public toilet at the Sarawak Museum maintained by the Kuching North City Hall.

In other new categories, the Best Homestay Programme went to Abas Homestay in Kampung Panglima Seman Lama while Top Spot Food Court in Kuching received an award for best hawker stalls.

Drum beat: A troupe from Sarawak Cultural Village beating the beduk, a traditional drum, to welcome the guest of honour.

Outstanding contributions to tourism by local authorities, government agencies and the private sector were also honoured, with the awards going to Miri City Council, Sarawak Tourism Board and Lamin Dana, Mukah, respectively.

Retired civil servant Lim Kian Hock was named the recipient of the new Ministerial Award for exemplary contribution to tourism by an individual.

Lim won the award for his 10 years of voluntary contribution to the private sector’s effort in developing the tourism industry in the state.

Varied: Models parading the clothes of a local designer.

He helped to revitalise the Sarawak Tourist Association, which later became the STF and promoted ideas for conserving the state’s heritage.

He also drafted the constitution of STF and several other tourism-related associations besides serving as their honorary advisor.

Drum beat: A troupe from Sarawak Cultural Village beating the beduk, a traditional drum, to welcome the guest of honour.

In addition, he has supported tourism events such as the Sarawak Regatta and the Intercultural Mooncake Festival.

STF president Wee Hong Seng said the awards not only honoured tourism players who were the best performers in their category but also acknowledged those who had put in a vast effort to uplift their services.

“The awards will benchmark our products and services among each other so that we can discover our strengths and weaknesses,” he said.

He added that the awards would be organised biennially to ensure that tourism products and services in the state were continuously upgraded.

The awards were presented by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh.

Cultural performances and a fashion show by local designer label Von Jolly added colour to the ceremony.

Source : STAR
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