Queensland’s peak industry body for tourism, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) is hopeful the state will snag a host of honours at this Friday’s Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Darwin.
The Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Outback Queensland, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Mossman Gorge Centre in Tropical North Queensland and Cruise Whitsunday’s Reef Sleep are among 20 Queensland tourism experiences vying to be recognised as the best in the country.
Chair of the Australian Tourism Awards and QTIC Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said competition at this year’s awards would be stiff.
“We are very proud of the Queensland finalists who are representing our state,” Mr Gshwind said.
To enter the Australian Tourism Awards, operators had to first win gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards, which were held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in November 2016.
Mr Gschwind said tourism was receiving plenty of attention globally, with the United Nations declaring 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
“There’s now more than one billion international tourists travelling the world each year and we have record numbers visiting our State”, Mr Gschwind said.
“Tourism is one of Queensland’s top export earners so it is critical that we acknowledge and celebrate the operators, staff and destinations that promote excellence in tourism.”
The Australian Tourism Award winners will be announced Friday evening (February 24) in Darwin.
Queensland nominations at the 2016 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards:
*Major Tourist Attractions - Australian Age of Dinosaurs
*Tourist Attractions - Cobbold Gorge Tours
*Major Festivals and Events - Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
*Festivals and Events - Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo
*Ecotourism - Fun Over Fifty
*Cultural Tourism - Kinnon & Co
*Qantas Award for Aboriginal &Torres Strait Islander Tourism - Mossman Gorge Centre
*Specialised Tourism Services - Tourism Lounge at Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre, Gold Coast
*Visitor Information Services - Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre
*Major Tour and Transport Operators - Ocean Rafting
*Tour and Transport Operators - Fun Over Fifty
*Adventure Tourism - Tangatours
*Destination Marketing - Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism
*Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services - Ochre Restaurant & Catering
*Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries - Sarina Sugar Shed
*Caravan and Holiday Parks - BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
*Hosted Accommodation - Cobbold Village
*Unique Accommodation - Cruise Whitsundays - Reefsleep
*Self-Contained Accommodation - Pinnacles Resort
*Standard Accommodation - Ibis Mackay
*Deluxe Accommodation - NEXT Hotel Brisbane
*Luxury Accommodation - RACV Royal Pines Resort
*Excellence in Food Tourism - Sarina Sugar Shed