Bangkok--28 Sep--PATA Collectively, and in each their own ways, the winners of the 24 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards and four best-of-show Grand Awards in 2007 embody the very best Asia Pacific travel and tourism has to offer; dreams, diversity,identity, and social and environmental conscience. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Deputy Director Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and PATA President and CEO Mr Peter de Jong presented trophies to all the winners today at PATA Travel Mart 2007. Hosted by the MGTO for the 12th consecutive year, the 2007 PATA Gold Awards Luncheon took place at the Grand Hyatt Bali; the first time the PATA Gold Awards has featured on the PATA Travel Mart programme. The four best-of-show PATA Grand Award winners were: Jetwing’s Dream — Education and Training Forced to bridge skills gaps and equip local young people for employment, the Jetwing Hotels’ Youth Development Project provided hospitality and English language training free to school leavers from disadvantaged farming families in the Sigiriya area. The aims of the “We Dreamed a Dream…” scheme were to solve the human resources shortage in Jetwing’s properties, especially Vil Uyana in Sigriya; pass on some of the benefits of tourism to the local community; and provide gainful employment to young people. India’s Diversity -- Marketing Targeted at affluent travellers from the US, Europe, Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East, the Incredible India global campaign helped to drive strong double-digit growth in foreign visitor arrivals into India. Leveraging India’s colour and cultural diversity in the campaign, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Governmenf of India made aggressive use of traditional above-the-line advertising as well as interactive new media, including several micro sites and 11 online contests. Macau’s Identity — Heritage The successful inscription “The Historic Centre of Macau” on the UNESCO World Heritage List prompted the Macau Government Tourist Office to launch 2006 Macau World Heritage Year, a campaign that positioned Macau as a destination offering travellers much more than entertainment and gaming. The campaign successfully boosted the economic value of the city’s rich heritage by positioning and promoting its “historic centre” as a must-see attraction. Six Senses’ Conscience — Environment Six Senses Resorts and Spa’s Social and Environment Conscience programme aims to enhance the social and environmental performance of Six Senses’ managed properties. The company hired a full time manager called “Social and Environment Conscience” to oversee the programme which includes environmental awareness and management, corporate partnerships and a “Social and Environmental Responsibility Fund”. Twenty-four PATA Gold Awards were also presented to 21 winners, listed in full below. PATA GOLD AWARD WINNERS 2007 1. Marketing Campaign - Primary Government / Destination Uniquely Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore 2. Marketing Campaign - Secondary Government / Destination Great Tropical Drive, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Townsville Enterprise, Australia 3. Marketing Campaign - Carrier Home Away from Home, Srilankan Airlines, Sri Lanka 4. Marketing Campaign - Hospitality Phuket Perfect, Delivering Asia Communications for C9 Hotelworks, Thailand 5. Marketing Campaign - Industry The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival 2006, AsiaReach Events, Malaysia 6. Environment - Ecotourism Project Chaaya Village Habarana, Chaaya Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka 7. Environment - Corporate Environmental Programme Responsible Travel, Intrepid Travel, Australia 8. Environment - Environmental Education Programme Soneva Nature Trip, Soneva Fushi, Maldives 9. Heritage Heritage Friendly Tourism Campaign, Heritage Watch, Cambodia 10. Culture Aranmula, Kerala Tourism, India 11. Education and Training LNTA-UNESCO Cultural Heritage Specialist Guide Programme, Lao PDR 12. Marketing Media - Brochure Kerala Tourism, India 13. Marketing Media - Broadcast Media Malaysia Truly Asia global TV commercial, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia 14. Marketing Media - Print Media Malaysia Truly Asia media campaign, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia 15. Marketing Media - Poster Ayudhaya Ancient Sites, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand 16. Marketing Media - Video Korea, Sparkling, Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK) 17. Marketing Media - Public Relations Lord Howe Island spring campaign 2006, Tourism New South Wales, Australia 18. Marketing Media - CD-Rom Chaaya Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka 19. Marketing Media - Website www.malaysia.travel , Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia 20. Marketing Media - E-Newsletter Bali Update, Bali Discovery Tours, Indonesia 21. Travel Journalism - Destination ArticleTea for Twenty Million, Simon Rowe, Discovery, Emphasis Media, HongKong SAR 22. Travel Journalism - Industry Business Article Myanmar Takes on Tourism, Fred Gebhart, Travel Professional, USA 23. Travel Journalism - Travel Photograph Old Manila, Lester V Ledesma, Smile (Cebu Pacific Air), Ink Publishing, Singapore 24. Travel Journalism - Travel Guidebook Lifestyle Destination Guide: NYC, Thai Airways International, Thailand For more information please contact: PATA Corporate Communications Ms Min Min Wong Tel: +66 (0)2 658-2000 extension 107 Email: [email protected] PATA Marketing Communications Mr David Gillbanks Tel: +66 (0)2 658-2000 extension 108 Email: [email protected]