The third Perak Tourism Awards 2013 event held before the close of the year was another glitzy affair attended by the multiple stakeholders from the tourism industry throughout the state.
Held at Hotel Casuarina@Meru it was graced with the presence of Perak Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. Also in attendance was the State Exco for Tourism, Health and Culture Nolee Ashilin Radzi and Perak Tourism Association Chairman Hj Mohd Odzman Abdul Kadir.
The annual Perak Tourism Award presentation is held each year to recognise and acknowledge the contributions of various players in the tourism industry. These include the government agencies both state and federal, private companies, NGOs and individuals who have worked hard to improve and develop the tourism industry in the State.
Zambry in his address said the state had plenty of international products from the pristine forest of Royal Belum to million-years-old limestone hills and jungles. Our buildings of colonial architecture and mesmerizing historical products are unique and cannot be compared with KL and Penang as we are in a category of our own. Acknowledging that the industry cannot progress without the participation from all players, we therefore need to merge our commitment and expertise to develop our tourism industry.
The awards that night were presented to 22 recipients. The recipients per category were:
Best City Hotel: Grand Kampar Hotel, Kampar
Best Eco Resort: Tiger Rock Resort, Pangkor Island
Best Budget Hotel: Ipoh City Hotel, Ipoh
Best Homestay: Home Stay Bagan Datoh
Best Chalet: Nipah Guest House, Pangkor Island
Best Tour Agent: Aidel Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd, Ipoh
Best Tourism Product: Belum-Temenggor Rainforest Complex
Best Potential Tourism Product: Kellie’s Castle
Best Malay Restaurant: Restoran Tasik Raban, Lenggong
Best Chinese Restaurant: Restaurant Yum Yum Ipoh
Best Indian Restaurant: Samy Curry House, Chemor
Best Local Food Product: Yee Hup Biscuits
Best Tourism Publication: Perak Tourism News, Ipoh Echo
Best Tourism Event: 33rd World Congress of Poets
Best Innovative Government Agency: Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Perak Office
Best Innovative Local Government Agency: MBI
Best Innovative Corporation: Gaharu Technologies, Gopeng
Best Innovative Organisation: Perak Heritage Society
Best Tour Promoter: Encik Zukni bin Yusof
Special Awards for Tourism Personalities were awarded to:
Puan Putri Zanina bt Megat Zainuddin for travel reports on Perak products
Dr Kevin Lazarus of Zoo Taiping for consistently promoting and upgrading Zoo Taiping.
The Organising Chairman for the event, PTA Chairman Hj Mohd Odzman, said the selection criteria was based upon the award recipients’ contribution to the industry. Odzman made special mention of the 33rd World Poets Convention which was voted Best Event of the year having attracted participants from 30 countries which was more than even the annual sports events.
Indeed the Tourism awards event has provided a snapshot highlight of the potential of Perak’s tourism industry which is just waiting to be discovered.
Ipoh Echo is particularly proud to have won the award for Best Tourism Publication which is the second tourism award won.
JAG
