PATA has revealed the winners of the 2026 PATA Gold Awards, honouring 26 initiatives across marketing, sustainability, and social responsibility.
The Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia, secured the Grand Title Winner in Marketing for its drone relay initiative, which achieved a Guinness World Record by flying 1,706.7km across the state to promote the destination ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
The Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, China, received the Grand Title Winner in Sustainability and Social Responsibility for its conservation and heritage project focused on the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings.
Selected by an independent panel of tourism professionals and academics, other category winners included the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), SriLankan Airlines, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Tourism Fiji, and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Thailand. Recognition was also extended across industry media categories.
The awards ceremony highlighted key industry themes including climate action, emerging technology, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
“PATA Travel Mart (PTM) is about building valuable, quality business connections that extend beyond the event and the opportunities they create that can grow into lasting partnerships,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid.
“By taking PTM beyond the region’s traditional gateways, we are deliberately opening international markets to smaller and emerging destinations, helping disperse tourism, broaden economic opportunities and show that the next generation of tourism growth can come from beyond the established hubs.”
