Published Friday, 24 October, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Gladstone operators vie for top tourism honours
Six operators from the Gladstone region 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 Gladstone region entrants among more than 200 tourism enterprises seeking Queensland’s highest tourism accolade.
The Gladstone entrants are Boyne Tannum Hookup Association, Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd, Scooter Roo Tours, Gecko Valley, Barney Beach Caravan Parks and Queensland Cruising Yacht Club.
Gecko Valley won the Tourism Wineries Award last year.
“Gladstone operators will compete in six of the 28 categories including festivals and events, tourism wineries, accommodation providers and tourism services, proving the region’s strength and diversity as a tourism destination,” Ms Boyle said.
“The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry while reinforcing the value of tourism to Queensland’s regions.
“From major tourist attractions and wineries to luxury retreats, quirky regional festivals and indigenous tours, the awards celebrate Queensland’s incredible range of tourism experiences and encourage new products 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!”
Ms Boyle said visitor expenditure in Queensland last year surpassed $19 billion.
“More than 200,000 Queenslanders are employed in the tourism industry and over the past few years this number has grown at twice the rate of the national average so we cannot underestimate the value of this industry to our state,” she said.
“Encouraging and promoting success and innovation is crucial if Queensland is to continue to maintain its status as a global tourism leader.”
Ms Boyle congratulated the Gladstone entrants for taking the time to nominate and wished them luck.
She also 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
Tourism Queensland – ph 3535 5010
The 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, will be held in Brisbane on November 14, with the Gladstone region entrants among more than 200 tourism enterprises seeking Queensland’s highest tourism accolade.
The Gladstone entrants are Boyne Tannum Hookup Association, Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd, Scooter Roo Tours, Gecko Valley, Barney Beach Caravan Parks and Queensland Cruising Yacht Club.
Gecko Valley won the Tourism Wineries Award last year.
“Gladstone operators will compete in six of the 28 categories including festivals and events, tourism wineries, accommodation providers and tourism services, proving the region’s strength and diversity as a tourism destination,” Ms Boyle said.
“The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry while reinforcing the value of tourism to Queensland’s regions.
“From major tourist attractions and wineries to luxury retreats, quirky regional festivals and indigenous tours, the awards celebrate Queensland’s incredible range of tourism experiences and encourage new products 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!”
Ms Boyle said visitor expenditure in Queensland last year surpassed $19 billion.
“More than 200,000 Queenslanders are employed in the tourism industry and over the past few years this number has grown at twice the rate of the national average so we cannot underestimate the value of this industry to our state,” she said.
“Encouraging and promoting success and innovation is crucial if Queensland is to continue to maintain its status as a global tourism leader.”
Ms Boyle congratulated the Gladstone entrants for taking the time to nominate and wished them luck.
She also 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
Tourism Queensland – ph 3535 5010