Tourism Malaysia outdoes Santa in gift giving

Tourism Malaysia outdoes Santa in gift giving

Carrie Peach must have been good this year, because she got a Christmas present the envy of all her friends when she won a dream holiday for two to Malaysia this week.

The Taumarunui woman entered the competition on Tourism Malaysia New Zealand’s Facebook page several weeks ago and on December 17 – a day after her 32nd birthday – she received the news that her entry had been chosen from thousands of others.

Carrie, who works as a sales assistant at Seriously Outdoors, says she is ‘buzzing’ from the news having never won anything in her life – not even a raffle prize.
“I am so blown away and excited. I just usually enter these things and I never dream of actually winning!” she said. “I feel like I have settled a wee bit now, but last night was just crazy talking to my family about it. They are all just as excited as me and my boyfriend Lee.”
Participants were encouraged to pin their avatar to a virtual map of Malaysia and say in 20 words or less why they would like to visit their chosen spot. Carrie, a nature lover and outdoor enthusiast, chose the Tree Top Walk in Kedah as her idea location because of the variety of flora and fauna on offer.

“The 950 metre-long Tree Top Walk in the Sedim River Recreation Park is the longest canopy walk of its kind in the world,” says Zalina Ahmad, director of Tourism Malaysia in New Zealand. “Visitors get a fantastic ‘monkey’s eye view’ of the primeval rainforest from 50 metres up.”

Ahmad says the aim of the Facebook competition was to show Kiwis the variety of activities and experiences on offer in Malaysia in the lead up to Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

“Malaysia is known throughout the world for its fantastic beaches, but there is so much more for Kiwis to see and do there,” she says. “We wanted to show New Zealanders, from culture vultures to thrill seekers, that there is something for everyone in Malaysia.

We are bringing Kiwis more exciting competitions and prizes in the New Year – so keep any eye out for us! From all of us at Tourism Malaysia New Zealand and Malaysian Airlines we would like congratulate Carrie for her winning entry and say thanks to everyone for supporting the competition.”

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