He said Indonesia officially proposed three prime destinations for being judged by juries in the UN body.
"Two months ago, around October, we presented them one by one in detail," he said.
On January 20, 2016 the assistant deputy for overseas marketing communication development, Noviendi Makalam, presented them through live streaming before the team of judges.
The judges did not visit the locations in person but monitored the debate through video streaming which was fair and professional, he said.
The results are Banyuwangi, which is a district in East Java, wins the UN-WTO Award in Innovation in Public Policy and Governance with a theme of "Re-inventing the Local Government in Tourism, Culture and Tourism."
"Banyuwangi beats Responsible Tourism and Free of Crime, Alcaldia Medellin, Columbia, and East Africa Tourism Platform, Kenya," he said.
The second award won by Indonesia is from the category of Innovation in Enterprises.
Garuda Indonesia and Coca Cola Amatil Indonesia was the first runner-up with a theme of "Bali Clean Up" while the second runner-up position was taken by First Professional Experience Project Melia Hotels of Spain.
"The winner in this category is Treetop Walking Path, Anyksciai Technional Park Direction, Lithuania," he said.
Indonesia wins the third award through Karang Lestari Foundation presenting a theme of Coral Reef Reborn in Pemuteran, Bali.
This location was also declared as the first runner-up in the category of Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations.
The second runner-up position was taken by Children in the Wilderness, South Africa. The winner in the category was Sisterhood of Survivor Program, Sanane, Nepal.
The awarding ceremony was attended by around 500 invitees from across the world.
Malaysias minister of culture and tourism, Datuk Moh. Nasri and entourage also attended the event in Madrid.
Dozens of tourism ministers from various countries learned one by one the winners.
The Indonesian delegation was led the countrys permanent representative in UNWTO and ambassador to Spain, Yuli Mumpuni Widarson, Banyuwangi district head Abdullah Aswar Anas, Buleleng district head Putu Agus, assistant deputy for Europe and America, assistant deputy for market development in Europe, the Middle East, America and Africa, Nia Niscaya, assistant deputy for overseas marketing communication development, Noviendi Makalam, and other tourism ministry officials.
Minister Yahya who is attending the ASEAN Tourism Fair in Manila, the Philippines, said the global awards were very significant for Indonesia as it would improve the countrys image as Wonderful Indonesia.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
