Malaysia bags 3 tourism awards

At the Incentive Travel and Conventions Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) show and 17th Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Annual Travel Awards 2006 held at the royal cliff beach resort in Pattaya, Thailand, Malaysia was named the best National Tourism Organization (NTO).

For the IT&CMA trade show, the Malaysia stand, which projected the country's multi-ethnic population and diverse attractions, received the award for the most popular country/state booth.

Mitra Malaysia, a local inbound travel agency, was voted the best in the travel agent category.

The TTG Annual Travel Awards are the most prestigious tourism awards in the Asia Pacific. Since their inception in 1989, the awards have become recognized as the highest accolades in the region's travel and tourism industry.

Mirsa Mohammed Tayib, director general of Tourism Malaysia, received the NTO award before some 600 leaders of the travel trade industry.

He said the award is timely as it shows the impact of the ongoing "Malaysia Welcomes the World" campaign and the current preparations for the forthcoming "Visit Malaysia Year 2007" celebrations when the country expects a surge in tourist arrivals.

Readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTGmice and TTG-BTmice China decide on the winners through a voting exercise available in print and online. As the awards winners are chosen by members of the travel trade, they are widely regarded and affirmed as being the best in their respective fields.