The little island that could

The little island that could

The small, often forgotten island of Tasmania sitting underneath Australia’s mainland has had a big year.

First, Lonely Planet was calling it out as one of the hot destinations for 2015, and then, it’s hitting it out of the park with no less than 10 gold medals at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

The island manages to squeeze everything from wilderness playgrounds and sea adventures to luxury resorts and culinary prowess onto its tiny shores, and now it’s being rewarded for it.

Stepping up onto the podium, little Tassie has shown Australia its no pushover when it comes to tourism. And the winners are…

 GOLD

Australian Tourism Legend: Robert Pennicott
Major Tourism Attractions: Port Arthur Historic Site
Tourist Attractions: Bruny Island Cruises
New Tourism Development: Tasmanian Seafood Seduction
Ecotourism: Bruny Island Cruises and Hall of Fame
Heritage and Cultural Tourism: Port Arthur Historic Site
Major Tour and/or Transport Operators: Par Avion Wilderness Tours
Excellence in Sustainable Tourism: Pennicott Wilderness Journeys and Hall of Fame
Business Tourism: The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel
Tourism Education and Training: Kingthing Marketing

SILVER

Major Festivals and Events: The Falls Music & Arts Festival
Deluxe Accommodation: Avalon Coastal Retreat
Specialised Tourism Services: Launceston Airport

BRONZE

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries: James Boag’s Brewery
Hosted Accommodation: Curringa Farm
Luxury Accommodation: Saffire Freycinet

Tourism Tasmania’s CEO John Fitzgerald said Tasmania has really come into its own.

“With so many of this year’s Australian Tourism Award winners coming from Tasmania, it only confirms the quality of our operators and their ability to create and deliver uniquely Tasmanian holiday experiences that their guests will want to talk about long afterwards.

“A light is currently shining on Tasmanian tourism as a record number of Australian and overseas visitors discover the surprising array of natural, heritage, cultural and gourmet experiences we have in such a compact holiday destination.”

“I urge everyone to get down here as soon as they can, and find out for themselves why Lonely Planet ranked Tasmania as the fourth best region in the world to visit during 2015,” he added.

Tasmania can’t help but quietly pump its collective fist in celebration of all these recent awards.

And they join other accolades including the world’s best whisky, as well as Lonely Planet’s fourth best region in the world to visit in 2015, so it’s no wonder the little gem down under is fast becoming a tourist hot zone.

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