THE GREAT ORANG UTAN PROJECT IN SARAWAK WON AWARD AT WTM LONDON

by RihanNa (bukan Nama Sebenar)

LONDON, UK - Monday: The Great Orang Utan Project being run at Matang Wildlife Centre in Kuching, Sarawak has been highly commended in the Best for Responsible Wildlife Experience at World Responsible Tourism Awards 2013. The award ceremony was held last weekend at 2013 World Travel Market (WTM), the leading global event for the travel industry.

At the ceremony, the award was handed over to Datuk Amar Abang Zohari Tun Openg, Sarawak’s Minister of Housing & Tourism by Andrew Starbucks, Managing Director of The Great Projects UK. Also present at the ceremony were Assistant Minister of Tourism Sarawak, Datuk Haji Talib Zulpilip, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism Sarawak, Datu’ Ik Pahon Joyik.

The Awards are the most prestigious and competitive of their kind in the world and are a collaboration between online travel directory responsibletravel.com and ICRT (International Centre for Responsible Tourism). The Award ceremony took place at World Travel Market during its dedicated World Responsible Tourism Day which takes place on the same time at the event venue and supported by the prominent mainstream media partners such as Metro and industry broadcasters such as TTG, Green Hotelier and Selling Long Haul.

This year, the Award featured 8 categories covering a variety of topics, which reflect the hottest issue curently debated in the world of responsible and sustainable tourism. The Great Orang Utan Project in Matang Wildlife Centre that has been highly commended for this category is part of a family of animal protection projects under The Great Projects of UK.

Maurice Balang, Marketing Manager (Europe ?? International Market) of Sarawak Tourism Board  who represented the Board at WTM said; “We are proud of the recognition and hope that the awareness created will encourage more travel towards responsible tourism in Sarawak. We offer a great experience where tourist as part of their travels can help save the Orang Utan species”.

Now in their 10th year, the World Responsible Tourism Awards was founded in 2004 to celebrate the most inspiring stories in responsible tourism.

The overall winner for 2013 was the travel company TUI Netherlands for an initiative to fight sex tourism in Brazil.

The winner of the Best Responsible Wildlife Experiences category was Nam Nern Night Safari in Laos that was set up by Wildlife Conservation Society. It is known for its initiative to support the conservation of tigers and their prey, as well as other wildlife, by placing a monetary value on tigers and other wildlife for local people.  This category is the newest category introduced this year. The past category which reflect the aims of the effort for wildlife is the Best for Marine Environment that was won by Moonraker Dolphin Swims Australia.

The Great Orang Utan Project was highly commended along with another entry from Belize.

                                     

Picture: The recognition presented to Datuk Amar Abang Zohari Tun Openg (2nd from right) by Andrew Starbucks (middle). Present at the ceremony also Datu Ik Pahon Joyik (far left), Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab (2nd left) and Datuk Hj Talib Zulpilip (far right).

Issued by:

Corporate Communications Unit
SARAWAK TOURISM BOAD

T: +6 082-423600

F: +6 082-416700

Email: gustino@sarawaktourism.com

Date: November 11, 2013