STB & Chongqing Commission of Culture and Tourism Development Awarded Grand Title Winners of the 2026 PATA Gold Awards

Kuching, Malaysia, August 22, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 PATA Gold Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements across the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. This year, 26 award categories recognise innovative campaigns and impactful initiatives across Marketing, Sustainability and Social Responsibility.

Among this year’s leading organisations in the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry, the Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia, has been selected as the Grand Title Winner in the Marketing category, while the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, China, has been selected as the Grand Title Winner in the Sustainability and Social Responsibility category.

PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said, “The PATA Gold Awards continue to shine a light on the creativity, innovation and commitment shaping a stronger and more sustainable tourism industry. This year’s submissions were among the strongest we have seen, reflecting the remarkable efforts of PATA members and the wider industry in pursuing excellence. The winning entries show how bold ideas can create lasting impact — from innovative marketing and emerging technologies to conservation, climate action, inclusion and community empowerment. They set new benchmarks for excellence and demonstrate tourism’s potential as a force for positive change. I warmly congratulate all of this year’s winners and commend them for the passion and purpose behind their work. I also extend my sincere appreciation to our independent judging committee for their time, expertise and commitment to ensuring a rigorous and fair evaluation process.”

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, said, “My applause goes to all the winners for the amazing projects awarded this year, which fully demonstrate the power of tourism in highlighting and building a better tomorrow for our communities. As a destination continually evolving as a world centre of tourism and leisure, Macao is honored to join hands with PATA and be part of this initiative aimed at fostering vibrant yet responsible tourism development in the Asia Pacific.”

This year’s winners were selected by an independent judging committee comprising senior tourism professionals, academics, researchers and industry experts from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

As the PATA Gold Award 2026 Grand Title Winner in Marketing, the Sarawak Tourism Board was recognised for its Sarawak Guinness World Record – Longest GPS Journey by Successive Drones. On December 31, 2025, Sarawak officially secured a Guinness World Record for the longest GPS journey by successive drones, completing an unbroken aerial relay of 1,706.7 kilometres across the state. The historic flight involved 128 continuous flight segments spanning the length of Sarawak and captured extensive aerial footage showcasing the state’s diverse landscapes. The achievement provided a creative and high-impact platform to promote Sarawak ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

The PATA Gold Award 2026 Grand Title Winner in Sustainability and Social Responsibility, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, was recognised for its Millennial Whispers of Stone, Shared Preservation of Heritage – Sustainable Development Program for the Systematic Conservation, Research, and Dynamic Inheritance of the Dazu Rock Carvings. The Dazu Rock Carvings, an outstanding example of late Chinese grotto art, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The initiative establishes a sustainable system integrating conservation, research, revitalisation and inheritance through scientific protection, academic research, adaptive reuse, community participation and international cooperation, supporting the long-term preservation and sustainable development of this important heritage site.

The PATA Gold Awards recognise excellence across a broad range of disciplines, from destination and industry marketing to emerging technology, climate action, conservation, human capital development, community-based tourism, inclusivity and youth and women empowerment.

PATA Gold Awards 2026 – Grand Title Winners

1. Marketing
Winner: Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia
Submission: Sarawak Guinness World Record – Longest GPS Journey by Successive Drones

2. Sustainability & Social Responsibility
Winner: Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, China
Submission: Millennial Whispers of Stone, Shared Preservation of Heritage – Sustainable Development Program for the Systematic Conservation, Research, and Dynamic Inheritance of the Dazu Rock Carvings