Digital Travel Storytelling Competition 2026
Showcase your travel story through impactful digital storytelling that promotes sustainable tourism practices.
Tell Your Travel Story
A national-level digital storytelling competition that provides a platform for creativity, culture, and sustainability awareness through video and photography.
National Platform
Showcase your talent on a prestigious national stage with participants from across Malaysia.
Sustainability Focus
Promote sustainable tourism practices through compelling visual narratives.
Win Recognition
Earn prestigious awards and recognition for your creative storytelling abilities.
Choose Your Category
Video
Create compelling video content that tells your sustainable tourism story.
Photography
Capture stunning photographs that showcase sustainable travel experiences.
Participation Categories
Polytechnic & Community College
Higher Education Institutions
Secondary School
Primary School
Participation Format
Individual OR Group (Maximum 3 participants per group)
Important Dates
Competition Period Begins
14 January - 07 March 2026
Extended: 14 January - 10 March 2026
Finalist Announcement
16 March 2026, After 2:00 PM
Final & Closing Ceremony
04 - 05 April 2026
Finalist Announcement Coming Soon!
The list of finalists will be officially released on 16 March 2026 after 2:00PM. Stay tuned and get ready!
Where It Happens
Submission & Screening
Online
14 Jan 2026 - 07 Mar 202614 Jan 2026 - 10 Mar 2026
Final Judging
The Pearl Kuala Lumpur Hotel
04 Apr 2026
Closing Ceremony
Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC), KL
05 Apr 2026
Final Evaluation
Top 15 finalists per category will pitch their digital content live at The Pearl Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Steps to Participate (Online)
Capture creatively
Create your photo or video content
Upload to social media (public)
Make your post public on TikTok
Write storytelling caption
Include a compelling sustainable tourism narrative
Use hashtags & tag
#TravelStoryTellingCompetition2026 #SustainableTourism #VMY2026 #TheGreatPsis @talesofmy_
Eligibility, Guidelines & Terms
✅ Eligibility
- • Open to Malaysian & non-Malaysian citizens
- • Individual or group (maximum 3 members)
- • Malay or English entries only
- • ONE video + ONE photo submission per participant
- • Participation implies agreement to all terms and conditions
Categories: Polytechnic / Community College • Higher Education Institutions • Primary School • Secondary School
🎥 Video Category Guidelines
Technical Requirements:
- ▸ Duration: 2-3 minutes
- ▸ Format: MP4 / MOV (TikTok compatible)
- ▸ Minimum resolution: 720p
- ▸ Aspect ratio: 9:16 or 16:9
Content Requirements:
- ▸ At least one participant must be visible
- ▸ Polite, ethical, non-sensitive content
- ▸ TikTok account must be public until 5 April 2026
- ▸ Music must comply with TikTok policies
🌍 Storytelling Elements (SDG Requirement)
All video submissions MUST incorporate the following Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) elements:
MANDATORY ELEMENT:
SDG 12 – Responsible Production & Consumption
Wise use of resources, waste reduction and support for sustainable tourism products and services.
Choose at least ONE (1) additional element:
SDG 8 – Local community or cultural engagement
Supporting the local economy and income opportunities through digital tourism.
SDG 11 – Support for the local economy
Preserving communities, culture and destinations in a sustainable manner.
SDG 13 – Environmental preservation
Raising awareness of environmental conservation and climate action.
Required hashtags: #TravelStoryTellingCompetition2026 #SustainableTourism #VMY2026 #TheGreatPsis Tag: @talesofmy_
⚠️ Filming risks borne by participants • School entries require parental consent
📸 Photography Category Guidelines
- ▸ Minimum 5 photos required
- ▸ Free photography style (any creative approach)
- ▸ Include storytelling caption focused on sustainable tourism
- ▸ Faces of participants must appear in photos
- ▸ Polite language and non-sensitive content
- ▸ TikTok account must be public until 5 April 2026
🌍 Storytelling Elements (SDG Requirement)
All photo submissions MUST incorporate the following Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) elements:
MANDATORY ELEMENT:
SDG 12 – Responsible Production & Consumption
Wise use of resources, waste reduction and support for sustainable tourism products and services.
Choose at least ONE (1) additional element:
SDG 8 – Local community or cultural engagement
Supporting the local economy and income opportunities through digital tourism.
SDG 11 – Support for the local economy
Preserving communities, culture and destinations in a sustainable manner.
SDG 13 – Environmental preservation
Raising awareness of environmental conservation and climate action.
Required hashtags: #TravelStoryTellingCompetition2026 #SustainableTourism #VMY2026 #TheGreatPsis Tag: @talesofmy_
⚠️ Photography risks borne by participants • School entries require parental consent
⚖️ Other Terms & Conditions
-
✓Copyright remains with participants
-
✓Participants must ensure copyright compliance of all content
-
✓Original work only - no plagiarism
-
!Organizer may reject or revoke entries that violate terms
-
✓Organizer may use submitted works for promotional purposes
-
!Organizer reserves the right to amend terms at any time
-
✗Incomplete or misleading entries will be disqualified
Resources & Downloads
📄 Parental / Guardian Consent Forms
Required for school-level participants. Please upload ONE consent form only (either Bahasa Melayu or English) during submission.
Official Program Booklet
View the complete competition details, schedule, and information
View Program BookletPrizes & Awards
For both Video & Photography categories, per education level
1st Place
Cash Prize • Trophy • Certificate • Sponsored Prizes
2nd Place
Cash Prize • Trophy • Certificate • Sponsored Prizes
3rd Place
Cash Prize • Trophy • Certificate • Sponsored Prizes
Consolation (4th - 15th)
Certificate • Sponsored Prizes
Special Award
Cash Prize • Trophy • Certificate • Sponsored Prizes
Judging Criteria
Theme & Message
Alignment with sustainable tourism theme and clarity of message
Creativity & Innovation
Originality and creative storytelling approach
Technical & Visual Quality
Production quality, composition, and visual appeal
Caption / Narrative
Quality and impact of storytelling caption
Compliance
Adherence to guidelines and requirements
Special Award Criteria
Social media engagement and overall appeal
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about participation, submission guidelines, and competition procedures.
Become a Jury Member
We invite experts in sustainability, tourism, storytelling, and digital media to join our jury panel
Ready to Tell Your Story?
Join thousands of participants from across Malaysia and showcase your sustainable tourism story to the world.
👉 Submission Closed
Submission closes on 07 March 2026.
Extended deadline: 10 March 2026.
Strategic Partners
