Fraser Coast operators vie for top tourism honours
Published Friday, 24 October, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Peppers Pier Resort and Hervey Bay Whale Watch’s Quick Cat II will vie for top honours in this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced today.
Ms Boyle said the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, will be held in Brisbane on November 14, with Fraser Coast entrants joining more than 200 tourism enterprises seeking Queensland’s highest tourism accolade.
“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 wineries to luxury retreats, quirky 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!”
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 maintain its status as a global tourism leader.”
Member for Hervey Bay Andrew McNamara said the local entrants were great ambassadors for the industry and wished them luck.
“Hervey Bay Whale Watch’s Quick Cat II is chasing the tour and/or transport operators gong and Peppers Pier Resort will contest both the meetings and business tourism and luxury accommodation categories,” Mr McNamara said.
“Regardless of the outcome, these operators are terrific ambassadors for our local tourism industry and have done our region proud.”
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
Tourism Queensland – ph 3535 5010
Ms Boyle said the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, will be held in Brisbane on November 14, with Fraser Coast entrants joining more than 200 tourism enterprises seeking Queensland’s highest tourism accolade.
“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 wineries to luxury retreats, quirky 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!”
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 maintain its status as a global tourism leader.”
Member for Hervey Bay Andrew McNamara said the local entrants were great ambassadors for the industry and wished them luck.
“Hervey Bay Whale Watch’s Quick Cat II is chasing the tour and/or transport operators gong and Peppers Pier Resort will contest both the meetings and business tourism and luxury accommodation categories,” Mr McNamara said.
“Regardless of the outcome, these operators are terrific ambassadors for our local tourism industry and have done our region proud.”
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
Tourism Queensland – ph 3535 5010