KUALA LUMPUR, 17 FEB 2016: The Ministry of Tourism and Culture is presenting 65 awards at tonight’s Malaysia Tourism Awards (MTA) in recognition of those who have supported the industry’s continuous growth and development. The awards ceremony held at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur on 17 February, is graced by YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, and attended by the players and captains of the tourism industry in the country.

The Malaysia Tourism Awards is the highest form of recognition by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Tourism Malaysia for industry players whose outstanding contributions have played a significant role in the success of Malaysia’s tourism industry.

Since its inception in 1987, the Malaysia Tourism Awards has evolved many times to reflect the changing tourism landscape. Initially called the Malaysia Tourism Gold Awards, it was later renamed the Malaysia Tourism Awards in 1993 to better reflect the distinction of the awards and the corporate image of Tourism Malaysia.

In 2000, the awards evolved from a locally-focused recognition to include the contributions of the international tourism fraternity towards Malaysia’s tourism industry. Recognition was given to foreign tour operators who diligently marketed Malaysia to their respective target audience, and members of the media who promoted Malaysia through their publications.

Another improvement to the awards was the creation of a MICE category in 2004. It was a timely move as Malaysia was gaining recognition as a destination for meetings and international conventions.

Subsequently, with the growing potential of homestay programmes as an attractive tourism product, a separate category was created to acknowledge the efforts of those involved in the promotion of this niche tourism product.

This 19th edition of the Malaysia Tourism Awards brings with it yet more improvements to better reflect the global landscape of tourism today.

The Malaysia Tourism Awards 2014/2015 has 14 categories and 50 sub-categories for nominations. Of the 14, two are new categories, namely Best Travel Documentary and Best Online Promotion. Meanwhile, the Best Foreign Tour Operator category has been expanded to acknowledge the efforts of more partners. Furthermore, the Best Tourism Publication is no longer restricted to tourism magazines, but also considers the contributions made by local and international publications such as coffee table books and guidebooks that have given good coverage on Malaysia.

In terms of promotion, the nomination form was made available in both printed and digital formats, the latter downloadable from www.motac.gov.my and www.malaysiatravel.my.

For the first time, a dedicated microsite was developed to specifically promote the Malaysia Tourism Awards and to increase participation from the international tourism trade. Due to overwhelming response, the closing date was extended from 30 June to 15 July 2015.

The 19th Malaysia Tourism Awards 2014/2015 invited the travel trade fraternity to submit nominations in the following 14 categories:

• Best Tourism Article
• Best Tourism Publication
• Best Online Tourism Promotion
• Best Travel Documentary
• Best Local Tour Operator
• Best Foreign Tour Operator
• Best Tour Package
• Best Tourist Attraction
• Best Tourist Guide
• Innovative Restaurant
• Best Homestay
• Best Spa
• Innovative Shopping Centre
• Best Hotel Services

ENDS

For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website at http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2014, Malaysia registered 27.4 million tourist arrivals and RM72 billion in receipts, making tourism its second largest foreign exchange earner.

Through the Tourism NKEA (National Key Economic Area), collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, other Government agencies and the private sector have been enhanced to help secure Malaysia’s position as a leading tourist destination and achieve the country’s target of 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020.

The targets set under the Tourism NKEA will be achieved through the implementation of twelve Entry Point Projects (EPPs) clustered under five themes: Affordable Luxury; Nature Adventure; Family Fun; Events, Entertainment, Spa and Sports; and Business Tourism.

Press contact:

Media Relations Unit:

Shukri Hanafiah, Senior Deputy Director, Corporate Communication Division

Tel: +603-8891 8767

Email: shukrihanafiah@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:

Anis Rozalina Ramli (Ms), Senior Editor, Corporate Communication Division

Tel: +603-8891 8759

Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my