Outback tourism winners vie for state recognition

Six winners who took out eight categories between them at the 2006 Southern Cross Television Outback Queensland Tourism Awards at the weekend will help represent the region at next week’s state awards.

Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said today 13 Outback tourism operators would vie for recognition with the rest of the state at the 22^nd annual Queensland Tourism Awards, in Brisbane on Friday, 17 November.

“I would particularly like to acknowledge Outback at Isa who won the top honours in three categories on Saturday night and a fourth for Best Submission, as well as Inflight Magazine, Outback Aussie Tours, the Overlander’s Way, Australia’s Dinosaur Trail and Argylla Tourist Park,” Mrs Keech said.

“They are all worthy competitors in their respective categories at a state level when they join the other nominations in representing the Outback region.

“The Outback Queensland Tourism Authority certainly excelled in organising and hosting the evening, which was a huge success.

“Whether at a regional or at a state level, awards serve to recognise and reward excellence and are a tremendous way to say ‘thanks’ to operators and their staff for their hard work and enthusiasm.

“All the winners next week will continue on to represent Queensland at the national tourism awards held in February next year.”

The Queensland Tourism Awards are organised each year by Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

Around 1,200 tourism leaders and representatives are expected to attend the gala event, which this year will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For further information, visit www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au.

Media Inquiries: David Smith 3225 1005 or Louise Yates 3535 5349 / 0419 713 176 (Tourism Queensland)

Entrants in the Outback region are:

·Argylla Tourist Park in the Tourist and Caravan Parks category;

·Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism category and the Significant Tourism Attraction category;

·Longreach School of Distance in the Significant Tourist Attraction category;

·Outback at Isa Visitor Information Centre in the General Tourism Services category;

·Outback at Isa in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism category and the Significant Tourist Attraction category;

·Outback Aussie Tours in the Significant Tour and Transport Operator category;

·Outback Queensland Tourism (North West Committee) for Overlander’s Way in the Tourist Product Marketing category;

·Outback Queensland Tourism Authority for Queensland’s Outback Travellers’ Guide in the Media category;

·Outback Queensland Tourism Authority for Check Out Queensland’s Backyard in the Destination Promotion category;

·Outback Queensland Tourism Authority for Outback Tourism Education Development Program in the Tourism Education and Training category;

·Australia’s Dinosaur Trail in the Destination Promotion category;

·Birdsville Races in the Significant Festivals and Events category; and

·Inflight Magazine, Mac Air Airlines, in the Media category.