At the first-ever Asian Tourism and Hospitality Awards, the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) was recognized as the "most outstanding tourism board" for 2022.

The recognition as the finest among the numerous competitors by the state government agency is encouraging, according to its chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

"Because the state government has prioritized tourism, it is a fact that STB has great management and team players.

The state's Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Bangkuai said, "This will not only help to achieve the state's development goals, but it will also ensure that the government has the best agency working towards specific objectives.

The award was given out on Friday in Kuala Lumpur at the ATHA 2022-2023 event, which was organized jointly by TIN Media and the Asia Hospitality Human Resource Association.

Noredah Othman, the chief executive officer of the STB, who was also there to accept the award, stated that the team at the STB would be inspired to keep working hard to advance state tourism to new heights.

This shows both the passion of our personnel and STB's commitment to the business, she added.

Noredah added that STB would keep looking at new opportunities for collaboration and promotion to further solidify Sabah as a popular travel destination.

Four travel and tour companies from Sabah also received accolades on the occasion.

They are Borneo Calling Tour and Travel (Leading Adventure Tour Operator), D'Seven Travel and Tours (Top Travel Agency - Outbound Religious Pilgrimage), and Nadi Borneo Tours (Leading Tour Operator - Inbound Borneo) (Leading Tourism Transport Company – Land).