REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BERLIN - Indonesian author, Andrea Hirata, was awarded ITB Buch Award 2013 during the biggest international tourism fair, International Tourism Bourse (ITB), in Berlin on Friday.

Andrea Hirata wrote 'Laskar Pelangi' (The Rainbow Troops) based on his childhood experiences in Belitung. The novel was later translated into several languages gets the award on literature category, which is organized by Messe Berlin.

Hirata said he did not aware of the process that led him to get the prestigious award from the board of ITB Berlin. Hirata, after receiving the award, said that he was busy translating and editing Laskar Pelangi.  

He said he was glad that the award can make Bangka Belitung famous and hopefully could attract many foreign tourists. Laskar Pelangi has also once become "book of the month" in Australia.

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