Five photographs promoting sustainable tourism in ASEAN countries have won awards in a contest organized by the Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ).
Winning the top prize is a photo entry from Indonesia showing a spectacular view of the Nepal Van Java tiered village in Butuh, Central Java while Thailand’s entry reflecting the way of life of mahouts hunting for wild elephants in Surin province is the first runner-up.
Thailand’s photo entry depicting the way of life of mahouts hunting for wild elephants in Surin province is first runner-up.
Another entry from Indonesia showing Balinese Hindu devotees at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple on the island of Bali is second runner-up.
Indonesia’s photo entry of Balinese Hindu devotees at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple on the island of Bali is second runner-up.
They were conferred awards at a ceremony on Monday to mark the 44th anniversary of CTJ, an umbrella organization of 12 Thai media professional organizations.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Sermsak Pongpanich and Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool attended the ceremony to present the awards.
Another five photo entries for Thai local photo contest were also awarded in the ceremony.
CTJ organized the photo competition as part of the activities of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalist (CAJ) under the theme “Embracing Sustainable Tourism Through Your Lens”.
CAJ is one of the region’s oldest media organizations of which CTJ is a member.
“Tourism is once again a major driving force for the economy of the ASEAN countries in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. But a revival of tourism has also raised concerns about its impact on the environment,” CTJ said in its invitation for entries for the contest.
“The Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ) strongly believes that sustainable tourism is the way for countries in the region to revitalize the tourist industry while at the same also safeguarding the environment.”
“As journalists, we also believe in the power of photography in helping drive home the need for sustainable tourism,’’ CTJ said.
It said altogether 108 entries were received from seven ASEAN countries. The Judging Committee based its selection on the following criteria: Relevance to the contest theme; creativity and impact; composition and technical skills; difficulty in accessing location and subject; and aesthetic appeal.
