Kota Kinabalu: Borneo Nature Tours won two top honours at the 35th Asean Tourism Association (Aseanta) Tourism Awards of Excellence held in Cebu, Philippines on Jan 27.
The Yayasan Sabah Group subsidiary secured the Best Asean Cultural Preservation Effort Award and the Best Asean Eco-Lodge Award.
The eco-lodge in Danum Valley, Lahad Datu, won two of the nine awards at stake, competing against leading lodges and hotels across Asia.
Borneo Rainforest Lodge Chief Executive Officer Freddie Coleman, who accepted the awards, said the recognition further affirmed the lodge’s credibility in delivering eco-nature experiences while preserving Borneo’s forest and cultural heritage.
On cultural preservation, he said the lodge supports local communities by providing employment and training in line with international standards, while also backing various programmes and research centres.
“For the long term, we strive to be a leader in nature tourism and to achieve sustainable development for the rainforest,” he said.
Aseanta comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The awards serve as a platform to share best practices and encourage collaboration across the region’s tourism industry.
Proven initiatives are highlighted to support replication and adaptation across different Asean destinations.
The regional evaluation process is conducted by tourism leaders from across Southeast Asia, with Aseanta acting as custodian of the programme.
