Yacht Race wins Queensland Tourism Award

The 60th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race has taken out the festival and events category at the prestigious 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced.

The awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, were held in a gala ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this evening.

“The Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race has grown from humble beginnings in 1949 to become Queensland’s premier ocean sailing event,” Ms Boyle said.

“While the race is renowned internationally among the offshore sailing community, it’s the event’s huge tourism potential here in Queensland that has been recognised by this award.

“The Brisbane to Gladstone has given rise to three major Queensland community festivals – the Gladstone Harbour Festival, the Redcliffe Festival of Sails and the Sandgate Bluewater Festival – established to coincide with the start and finish of the race.

“More than 73,000 land and water spectators headed to Moreton Bay to watch the start of the 2008 race and mark the event’s 60th anniversary while an estimated 70,000 visitors arrived in Gladstone to enjoy the week-long harbour festival and greet sailors as they crossed the finish line.

“The Brisbane to Gladstone is a shining example of how regions can use events to draw visitors, invigorate local economies and generate positive media exposure to promote their destinations.”

Ms Boyle also congratulated five finalists from the Gladstone region named for their outstanding achievements. They were:

• 2008 Observer Boyne Tannum Hookup (Festivals & Events)
• GAPDL Visitor Information Centres (Visitor Information & Services)
• GAPDL Free Industry Tours (Tour & Transport Operators)
• Gecko Valley Wines (Tourism Wineries)
• Barney Beach Caravan Parks (Tourist & Caravan Parks)

“This is a fantastic result for the Gladstone region, particularly in view of strong competition from across the state this year with more than 200 entries,” Ms Boyle said.

“The awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry and all winners and finalists are to be commended for their efforts.”

She also congratulated Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards.

“Thank you to our awards’ platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support in presenting the 2008 awards,” she said.

QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards' 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants' high degree of professionalism and business acumen.

"In these tough economic times, it becomes more imperative than ever for tourism businesses to employ sound planning and rigorous self-assessment," Mr Gschwind said.

"The Queensland Tourism Awards remains one of the best tools to guide operators through this process, with business planning a key component of every entry.

"Competition was as strong as ever this year and judges were pleased to see such high standards applied to submissions.”

Mr Gschwind also congratulated Qantas for its involvement in the new Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, which recognises successful businesses whose operations conserve natural resources, respect local cultures and benefit neighbouring communities.

"Sustainability will continue to be a key concern for any tourism business, particularly for those Queensland destinations whose trade relies on credibility for environmental responsibility," he said.

All Queensland Tourism Award winners will progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Melbourne on 27 February 2009.

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Media contact: Minister’s office 0419 025 326, Tourism Queensland 0424 151 684