Photo: Mohd Alif Noni
KUCHING: This year’s 8th Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards should see more entries competing in its nine main categories.
Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said entries should surpass the previous edition, which registered a total of 182 nominations.
“This will be the eighth time we are organising the bi-annual event and I am pleased to announce the theme for the 8th Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards, which is ‘On Fire for Sarawak’.
“We have chosen the theme to reflect the significance of having a strong, burning passion for the Sarawak tourism industry in order for us to advance in a dynamic and competitive manner as we seek to be on par with our peers,” Karim said.
He said this fiery passion should drive the industry forward as players seek to keep up with the constantly evolving trend of the tourism world.
“This year’s edition of the awards will set its focus on the progress and achievements of the local tourism industry between 2017 and 2018,” he said.
According to Karim, there will be nine main categories including two new additions, namely “Outstanding Shopping Malls” and “Outstanding Sports Tourism Events”.
“Within these main categories, there are 31 subcategories which will also be looked into,” he added during the launching of 8th Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards at the Old Court House on Thursday night.
Karim said award winners will receive the Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Award trophy, certificate, cash incentives of RM5,000 and marketing incentives worth RM3,000.
“We will also be giving awards to individuals and organisations that have been outstanding in their contributions to Sarawak’s tourism industry.
“The selection panel is to be headed by myself and comprises of members of the main organising committee,” he said.
The winners of the “Hornbill’s Special Awards” will be presented with the Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Award trophy, certificate and cash incentives of RM10,000.
“It is our hope that the awards will inspire the winners to go further in their endeavours and at the same time, motivate others to follow suit,” he said.
