Ketika industri pelancongan negara hampir lumpuh angkara penularan wabak COVID-19, Sarawak antara negeri yang bergelar "Adiwira" kerana dilihat masih mampu bertahan dalam fasa sukar tersebut.

Justeru tidak hairanlah apabila Bumi Kenyalang itu baru-baru ini dipilih merangkul anugerah 'Destination Of The Year' dalam majlis Malaysia Tourism Council Gold Awards 2022 selepas usaha berterusan mereka mempromosikan tarikan pelancongan tanpa mengira cabaran semasa.

Malah dalam majlis berprestij yang dianjurkan oleh Majlis Pelancongan Malaysia (MTC) -- Sarawak turut menerima lebih 20 anugerah lain.

Menteri Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri turut dinobatkan sebagai penerima Tourism Icon Inspirational Woman in Tourism.

Acara paling menarik tahunan pula dimenangi 25th Rainforest World Music Festival yang dianjurkan oleh Lembaga Pelancongan Sarawak.

Anugerah Ikon Pelancongan (Selebriti) diterima oleh artis dari Sarawak dan juara Gegar Vaganza 3 iaitu Azharina Azhar.

Majlis anugerah berprestij pelancongan anjuran MTC itu diadakan di Pusat Konvensyen Borneo di Kuching iaitu pusat konvensyen kedua terbesar di Borneo.

Lebih 100 jenama dan pengusaha pelancongan dipilih dan dihargai dengan anugerah berkenaan bagi menghargai mereka.

Pelbagai persembahan kebudayaan berkaitan negeri Sarawak seperti persembahan kebudayaan dan nyanyian oleh artis anak tempatan Bumi Kenyalang termasuk Azharina sendiri.

Presiden MTC, Uzaidi Udanis dalam ucapannya berkata MTC amat berbesar hati untuk menghargai sumbangan pengusaha pelancongan dalam mencari idea dan tarikan baharu demi menghidupkan kembali industri berkenaan yang ibarat sudah mati akibat pandemik.

“Kami amat gembira untuk menghargai usaha mereka yang gigih mencari idea mengharungi pandemik bersama-sama dengan pengusaha lain kembali menjadikan industri pelancongan kembali meriah.

“Buat kali pertama, MTC Gold Awards buat perkata kami diadakan di Sarawak, satu negeri yang amat kaya dengan budaya, cabaran, alam semulajadi, makanan dan festival.

“Kita berharap negeri Sarawak akan terus dikenali dengan pelbagai lagi tarikan istimewa untuk bawa masuk lebih ramai pelancong datang ke Malaysia,” katanya.

Berikut pula adalah senarai penuh pemenang MTC Gold Awards 2022 :-

• Tourism Icon of the Year (Innovative Tourism) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman
  Hamzah
• Champion of Sustainable Environment & Tourism Dato’ Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail
• National Aviation Icon Captain Izham Ismail
• Tourism Icon of the Year (Celebrity) Azharina Azhar
• Tourism Icon Inspirational Woman in Tourism Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri
• Tourism Icon of the Year (Government): Tan Sri Dr Ong Hong Peng
• Tourism Icon of the Year (Creative Tourism): Dato’ Seri Sharkar Shamsuddin
• Gold Award Destination of the Year (Sarawak): Sarawak Tourism Board
• Gold Award Ethnic & Cultural Performer Of The Year: At Adau
• Gold Award Event of the Year: 25th Rainforest World Music Festival (Sarawak Tourism
  Board)
• Gold Award F&B Tourist Choice of The Year: Starbucks Malaysia
• Gold Award Museum Of The Year: The Borneo Cultures Museum
• Gold Award Oustanding Inbound Association of the Year: Malaysia Inbound Tours
  Association (MITA)
• Gold Award Leadership in Tourism Development: Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof
• Gold Award M.I.C.E. Venue of the Year: Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK)
• Gold Award Water Theme Park Attraction: Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast
• Gold Award Rising Star — Ethnic Handicraft Products (East Malaysia): Agrokraf
  Borneo
• Gold Award M.I.C.E. Group Services: Amazing Borneo Tours & Events Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Champion of Cooperative Tourism Award: ANGKASA
• Gold Award MM2H Programme: Aramaz MM2H
• Gold Award Vacation Rental Management: AT Connection Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Integrated Convention Resort: Avani Sepang Gold Coast
• Gold Award Homestay Programme: Ayer Limau Homestay Melaka
• Gold Award Batik & Craft: Batik Linut
• Gold Award Community Spa: Boonga Spa, Perak
• Gold Award Sustainable City (East Malaysia): City Of Miri — Miri City Council
• Gold Award Excellent Contribution To Fashion & Lifestyle (East Malaysia): Dato’
  Raymond Valentine Jolly
• Gold Award Tourism Investment Service Excellence (East Malaysia): ECIB Bank
  Labuan
• Gold Award Tourist Nature Guide: Mohd Khairul Abu Bakar
• Gold Award Rising Star — State Foreign Investment Services: Epic Borneo (MM2H)
  Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Eco-Tourism Activity: Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia
• Gold Award Big Bike Adventure Event Management: FS Adventure Borneo Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Specialised Media & Marketing Services: Gaya Travel
• Gold Award Night Tourism Attraction: Gem Box
• Gold Award Tours & Travel Transportation Services (East Malaysia): Gofun
  Travels & Tours Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Family Boutique Chalet (Northern): Gua Kelam Chalet
• Gold Award Beauty & Wellness Spa: I-Naraz Beauty & Wellness, Negeri Sembilan
• Gold Award Tourism Apps: Johor Tourism Interchange (JTI)
• Gold Award Specialised E-Commerce & Digital Services (East Malaysia): Karuna
  (Sarawak) Enterprise Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Automotive Club: Kelab Pemilik Proton
• Gold Award Tourism Development Project: Kenyir Elephant Conservation Village
• Gold Award Outstanding Event Campaign: Keretapi Sarong
• Gold Award Medical & Weliness Tourism Centre: KPJ Hospital
• Gold Award Preferred Tourism Destination (East Coast): Kuala Terengganu Draw
  Bridge
• Gold Award Man Spa: Laksamana Spa, KL
• Gold Award Eco Adventure Tourism: Lata Kolam Air Deru Ecopark
• Gold Award Fashion Tourism: Le Fashion Secret
• Gold Award Tourism Promotion Campaign: Locco
• Gold Award Resort: Majestic Hotel Resort Melaka Gold Award Attractive State
  Tourism Event: Majestic Johor Festival 2022
• Gold Award Tourism Promotion Event: Majlis Bandaraya Seremban
• Gold Award Tourism Initiative Programme: Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam
• Gold Award Tourism Community Initiative: Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Selangor
• Gold Award Health and Wellness Tourism Product: Maryami Sufi Holistic Wellness
• Gold Award Sustainable Medical Tourism Programme: Malaysia Healthcare Travel
  Council (MHTC)
• Gold Award Shopping Attraction: Mitsui Outlet KLIA Sepang
• Gold Award Outstanding Islamic Compliance: Hotel Movenpick Hotel
• Gold Award Alternative Healing Experience: MyPapaCare Mini Spa, KL
• Gold Award Cosmetic Spa: Nanie Beauty Salon, Kelantan
• Gold Award Tourist Tour Package: Nine Island Agency
• Gold Award Attractive Borneo Tour Packages: Oscar Holidays
• Gold Award Tourist Man-Made Attraction: Panorama Langkawi
• Gold Award Business Hotel: Park Inn By Radisson Putrajaya
• Gold Award Outstanding Awareness Campaign of the Year: Persatuan Agensi
  Pelancongan Umrah & Haji Malaysia (PAPUH)
• Gold Award Sustainable Community Programme (East Malaysia): Persatuan
  Berbasikal Sarawak
• Gold Award Wellness Spa: Personality Beauty Salon
• Gold Award Corporate Travel Services (East Malaysia): Pin Sing Travel & Tours
  (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Luxury and Affordable Cruises Yacht Charter: Platinum Charters
• Gold Award Homestay Leadership: Hairuni@Jamilah Shukri
• Gold Award Eco Retreat Village: Premium Discovery Development Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Business Hotel (East Malaysia): Pullman Kuching
• Gold Award Kids Edutainment Centre: Pusat Sains & Kreatif Terengganu
• Gold Award Education Tourism Destination: Pustaka Raja Tun Uda Shah Alam
• Gold Award Music Tourism: Rohayati Saayan @ Royce Saayan
• Gold Award Family Eco-Tourism Destination: Rumah Hutan Terapi Bonda
• Gold Award Family Attraction: Rumah Terbalik
• Gold Award International Cruise Line: RW Cruises Pte Ltd
• Gold Award Gastronomy Experience: Sama-Sama Hotel
• Gold Award 5-Star Hotel: Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA
• Gold Award Cultural Showcase & Experience (East Malaysia): Sarawak Cultural
  Village
• Gold Award Scuba Diving Total Solution Provider: Scubatex Resources Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Island Family Resort: Sipadan Mabul Resort
• Gold Award Rising Star – Tours & Travel Services (East Malaysia): Smart Leisure
  & Travels Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Outstanding Inbound Campaign: Solidarity Association For Travel &
  Tours Agency Malaysia (SAFTTA)
• Gold Award Eco Tourism Resort: Taman Rimba Eko Komanwel
• Gold Award Excellent Indigenous Craft & Experiential Tourism: Tanoti Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Sustainable Spa: Teratak Spa, Penang
• Gold Award New Culture Attraction: Terengganu Culture Village
• Gold Award Eco-State Park: Terengganu State Parks Management Council
• Gold Award Holistic Spa: Terompah Spa, Kedah
• Gold Award Cooperative Hotel: The Blanket Hotel
• Gold Award City Destination Boutique Hotel (East Malaysia): The Waterfront Hotel
• Gold Award Nature Health Product: Tomowell (M) Sdn Bhd
• Gold Award Conservation Destination: Walai Penyu Conservation Park Libaran
• Gold Award Must Visit Place (Northern): Wang Kelian View Point (Jabatan
  Perhutanan Negeri Perlis)
• Gold Award Traditional Spa: Warisan Spa, Terengganu
• Gold Award City Hotel: Win Hotel, Kuching Sarawak
• Gold Award Contribution to Tourism Research: World Research Travel Organisation
  (WRTO) Malaysia
• Gold Award Icon National Event Management Citrawarna: Dato’ Naspu Daud
• Gold Award Batik Designer: Yan Creation
• Gold Award Preferred Tourism Destination National Park: Gunung Mulu National
  Park