Minister for tourism Martin Ferguson has acknowledged the “resilience” of Queensland tourism as he opened the 25th annual Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Cairns.
Ferguson spoke of the state’s gradual recovery from the natural disasters of 2011 and confirmed that visitor numbers were improving “due to the hard work and dedication of local tourism operators”.
“Domestic overnight trips have increased by 5% for the year to September 2011,” he said. “More than a third of all international visitors to Australia visited Queensland in the year to September 2011.”
The event, attended by more than 700 industry representatives, also marked the incorporation of the Great Barrier Reef to the National Landscapes program, to raise international awareness of the attraction which supports an estimated 60,000 jobs and represents an asset of $5 billion for the Queensland economy.
Meanwhile, a record 11 of the evening’s winners heralded from New South Wales, beating last year’s record of 10.
“With more than a third of these titles awarded to New South Wales-based operators, the value of tourism to the New South Wales economy can no longer be ignored,” Tourism Industry Council NSW general manager Andrew Jefferies said.
The winners are:
Major Tourist Attraction
Winner – Melbourne Museum, VIC
Silver – Taronga Zoo, NSW
Bronze – Kakadu National Park, NT
Tourist Attractions
Winner – The Magic of Jenolan, NSW
Silver – Alice Springs School of the Air Visitor Centre, NT
Bronze – Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, ACT
Major Festivals and Events
Winner – Floriade 2010 – Imaginations: Where will yours take you, ACT
Silver – Santos Tour Down Under, SA
Bronze – Melbourne Fringe Festival, VIC
Festivals and Events
Winner – NSW Caravan, Camping, RV and Holiday Supershow, NSW
Silver – City of Perth Australia Day Skyworks, WA
Bronze – South Australian Wooden Boat Festival, SA
Ecotourism
Winner – Moonraker Dolphin Swims, VIC
Silver – Lane Cove River Tourist Park, NSW
Bronze – Eco Beach Broome, WA
Heritage and Cultural Tourism
Winner – Jenolan Caves – Written in Stone, NSW
Silver – The Workshops Rail Museum, QLD
Bronze – Venture North Australia, NT
Indigenous Tourism
Winner – Coffs Coast Aboriginal Discovery, NSW
Silver – Mungalla Aboriginal Tours, QLD
Bronze – Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre, NT
Specialised Tourism Services
Winner – Newcastle Airport, NSW
Silver – DIY Tourguide, NT
Bronze – Mornington Peninsula Tourism
Visitor Information and Services
Winner – Bendigo Visitor Centre, VIC
Silver – Swan Valley Visitor Centre, WA
Bronze – Ipswich Visitor Information Centre, QLD
Meetings and Business Tourism
Winner – National Convention Centre, ACT
Silver – Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau, VIC
Bronze – Shoal Bay Resort & Spa, NSW
Major Tour and/or Transport Operators
Winner – Fantasea Adventure Cruising, QLD
Silver – Yellow Water Cruises, NT
Bronze – Moonshadow Cruises, NSW
Tour and/or Transport Operators
Winner – Tri State Safaris, NSW
Silver – Fun Over Fifty, QLD
Bronze – 12 Apostles Helicopters, VIC
Adventure Tourism
Winner – The Maria Island Walk, TAS
Silver – Tri State Safaris, NSW
Bronze – Equathon Horse Riding Tours, QLD
Tourism Marketing
Winner – Pure Tasmania, TAS
Silver – Conventions Adelaide Program, SA
Bronze – The Legendary Pacific Coast, NSW
Tourism Education and Training
Winner – Travel 21fiftythree, NSW
Silver – South West Institute of TAFE, VIC
Bronze – Quinlan’s Hospitality & Tourism Training Centre – Challenger Institute of Technology, WA
Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Winner – Jacob’s Restaurants @ Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre, SA
Silver – Margan Restaurant, NSW
Bronze – Max’s at Red Hill Estate, VIC
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Boutique Breweries
Winner – Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre, SA
Silver – Wyndham Estate Winery, NSW
Bronze – Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove
Tourist and Caravan Parks
Winner – BIG4 North Star Holiday Resort & Caravan Park, NSW
Silver – BIG4 Middleton Beach Holiday Park, WA
Bronze – BIG4 Beacon Resort, VIC
Backpacker Accommodation
Winner – Sydney Harbour YHA, NSW
Silver – Brisbane City YHA, QLD
Bronze – BIG4 Beacon Resort, VIC
Hosted Accommodation
Winner – Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage, SA
Silver – Mollymook Beach Waterfront, NSW
Bronze – Big Blue Backyard, VIC
Unique Accommodation
Winner – Eco Beach Broome, WA
Silver – Kings Canyon Wilderness Lodge, NT
Bronze – Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat, QLD
Standard Accommodation
Winner – Scone Motor Inn, NSW
Silver – Narnu Farm, SA
Bronze – Blue Moon Cottages, VIC
Deluxe Accommodation
Winner – The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel, TAS
Silver – Azjure Studio Retreat, QLD
Bronze – Lasseters Hotel Casino, NT
Luxury Accommodation
Winner – Saffire Freycinet, TAS
Silver – The Sebel Playford Adelaide, SA
Bronze – Crown Metropol, VIC
New Tourism Development
Winner – Musum of Old and New Art (MONA), TAS
Silver – The Enchanted Maze Garden, VIC
Bronze – Wildman Wilderness Lodge, NT
Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
Winner – Lane Cove River Tourist Park, NSW
Silver – Sinclair’s Gully, SA
Bronze – Eco Beach Broome, WA
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual (National)
Winner – Grant Hunt, NT
