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By APD writer Maverick
JAKARTA, Aug. 9 (APD) — Indonesia seized largest number of awards in the annual Southeast Asian Tourism Association (ASEANTA) Awards, continuing its domination in the event last year.
The largest nation in Southeast Asia region secured 3 awards from a total of six contended in the event entitled “30th ASEANTA Awards for Excellence 2017”.
Two of the awards seized by Indonesia went to state-run airlines Garuda Indonesia for the categories of Best ASEAN Airlines Program and Best ASEAN Cultural Preservation Efforts.
Another award went to Indonesian photographer Agus Prameswara for Best ASEAN Tourism Photo over his photo series that portrayed the beauty of Mount Bromo in Indonesia’s East Java province.
The other three awards were obtained by Malaysia-based budget airlines Air Asia for Best ASEAN Marketing and Promotion Campaign category, Singapore Airlines for Best ASEAN Travel Article category and Myanmar’s Shan Yoma Travel and Tours for Best ASEAN New Tourism Attraction category.
Speaking on the sidelines of the handing over ceremony, Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said Indonesia would pursue to earn more awards in more categories in the next regional tourism contests.
“We are excited to win again this time. Everything that we get today was planned before,” the minister said on the sidelines of awards handing over ceremony held in a lavish hotel here on Tuesday night.
The results, however, fell short from the minister’s targets to seize 5 awards from five categories where Indonesia contested in this year.
The only category Indonesia did not sent its contestant was Marketing and Promotion Campaign.
“We sent our contestants to compete in the competition after pertinently selected them,” the minister said earlier last month.
Indonesia secured three awards from six categories contested in 29th ASEANTA Awards held in Manila, the Philippines, last year for the categories of Best ASEAN Tourism Photo, Best ASEAN Cultural Preservation Efforts and Best ASEAN Travel Article.
Indonesia’s capital Jakarta hosted the ASEANTA meeting that ran from Sunday to Monday, attended by tourism association officials from 10 ASEAN member countries.
A familiarization trip program to several Indonesian destinations was also featured in the ASEANTA Awards event this year.
Participators of the program that consisted of travel agents and journalists from countries and regions of China, Japan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, India and Hong Kong
would visit Jakarta, Belitung, Banding, Solo, Yogyakarta, Bali and Malang, from Wednesday to Friday.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
