KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) won a gold award in the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart in New Delhi on Thursday (Oct 5).
The state agency was selected by PATA’s independent judging panel as the 2023 PATA Gold Award Winner in the category of “Travel Video – Catching Sabah” in conjunction with its travel event.
Collaborating with Huntwo Studios, STB created a captivating 5-minute 45-second video showcasing the diverse allure of Sabah, including urban exploration and nature’s wonders.
The video also highlighted wildlife encounters, underwater marvels, a culinary paradise, cultural heritage, and the state’s multi-ethnic communities.
Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai received the award during the PATA Gold Awards lunch and presentation hosted by the Macao Government Tourism Office.
Bangkuai – who is also the STB chairman – was accompanied by the board’s chief executive officer Noredah Othman.
Macao Government Tourism officer Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and PATA chairman Peter Semone presented the award held at the International Exhibition Convention Centre.
In his remarks, Bangkuai emphasized the transformative power of STB’s promotional videos.
“Winning such an award emphasizes the need for STB to maintain its momentum and live up to expectation, showcasing our agency’s capable leadership and dedicated team in driving the state’s tourism,” he said.
“The board will persist in creating innovative and creative marketing and promotional efforts to showcase Sabah from every angle,” added Bangkuai.
He stated that the board’s mission is to display the abundance Sabah has to offer, and STB actively creates video content with fresh perspectives to appeal to leisure and business travelers in all categories.
Last month, STB was awarded Asia’s Leading Regional Tourist Board at the 30th Annual World Travel Awards in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
It also won bronze for Best Communication of Social Media at the 4th Asean PR Excellence Awards with its “Fly Me To Sabah” campaign.
Bangkuai was in India not only to receive the award but also to lead STB delegates in attending forums at the PATA Travel Mart and meet with key industry players.
This engagement aimed at building valuable business connections with key players in the travel industry, fostering a deeper understanding of travel trends, and enticing them to explore the wonders of Sabah.
Also present were deputy chief executive officer Julinus Jimit and senior marketing manager Humphrey Ginibun.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
