Published Friday, 24 October, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Whitsundays operators vie for top tourism honours
Twenty-three Whitsundays tourism operators will vie for top honours in this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced today.
The 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, will be held in Brisbane on November 14, with the Whitsundays entrants among more than 200 tourism enterprises seeking Queensland’s highest tourism accolade.
At last year’s event, Hamilton Island Conventions won the Meetings and Business Tourism category, with 12 other Whitsunday tourist organisations listed as finalists.
“The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry while reinforcing the value of tourism to Queensland’s regions,” Ms Boyle said.
“From major tourist attractions and small B&Bs to luxury retreats, quirky regional festivals and indigenous tours, the awards celebrate Queensland’s incredible range of tourism experiences and encourage new product and even higher standards.
“They also acknowledge the outstanding contribution of those working in the engine room of the industry in areas including visitor information services, business tourism, education and training, specialised tourism services and tourism marketing.
“Competition at this year’s awards will be stiff with operators from tourism zones as diverse as Thursday Island and Mt Isa really stepping up!”
Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said the local entrants were great ambassadors for the industry and wished them luck.
“Whitsundays operators will compete in 15 of the 28 categories with a variety of operators, attractions, events, accommodation providers and tourism services,” Ms Jarratt said.
“Regardless of the outcome, these operators are terrific ambassadors for our local tourism industry and have done our region proud.”
Ms Boyle said more than 200,000 Queenslanders were employed in the tourism industry and over the past few years had grown at twice the rate of the national average.
“We cannot underestimate the value of this industry to our state,” Ms Boyle said.
“Encouraging and promoting success and innovation is crucial if Queensland is to maintain its status as a global tourism leader.”
Ms Boyle thanked the awards’ platinum sponsor - Queensland Airports Limited - and awards organisers Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.
“I encourage Queensland’s tourism industry, whether you have entered or not, to support your friends and colleagues and come along to what is the tourism ‘Oscars’,” she said.
Tickets are available from www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au.
Further information:
Minister’s Office – ph 3225 1005 or 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland – ph 3535 5010
A list of all Whitsundays entries in the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards is below.
The 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, will be held in Brisbane on November 14, with the Whitsundays entrants among more than 200 tourism enterprises seeking Queensland’s highest tourism accolade.
At last year’s event, Hamilton Island Conventions won the Meetings and Business Tourism category, with 12 other Whitsunday tourist organisations listed as finalists.
“The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry while reinforcing the value of tourism to Queensland’s regions,” Ms Boyle said.
“From major tourist attractions and small B&Bs to luxury retreats, quirky regional festivals and indigenous tours, the awards celebrate Queensland’s incredible range of tourism experiences and encourage new product and even higher standards.
“They also acknowledge the outstanding contribution of those working in the engine room of the industry in areas including visitor information services, business tourism, education and training, specialised tourism services and tourism marketing.
“Competition at this year’s awards will be stiff with operators from tourism zones as diverse as Thursday Island and Mt Isa really stepping up!”
Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said the local entrants were great ambassadors for the industry and wished them luck.
“Whitsundays operators will compete in 15 of the 28 categories with a variety of operators, attractions, events, accommodation providers and tourism services,” Ms Jarratt said.
“Regardless of the outcome, these operators are terrific ambassadors for our local tourism industry and have done our region proud.”
Ms Boyle said more than 200,000 Queenslanders were employed in the tourism industry and over the past few years had grown at twice the rate of the national average.
“We cannot underestimate the value of this industry to our state,” Ms Boyle said.
“Encouraging and promoting success and innovation is crucial if Queensland is to maintain its status as a global tourism leader.”
Ms Boyle thanked the awards’ platinum sponsor - Queensland Airports Limited - and awards organisers Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.
“I encourage Queensland’s tourism industry, whether you have entered or not, to support your friends and colleagues and come along to what is the tourism ‘Oscars’,” she said.
Tickets are available from www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au.
Further information:
Minister’s Office – ph 3225 1005 or 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland – ph 3535 5010
A list of all Whitsundays entries in the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards is below.