Bundaberg tourism operators are showcasing the region, with six local facilities nominated for awards at the upcoming 2021 Queensland Tourism Awards.
The awards, which will be held next week, will celebrate the outstanding achievements and resilience of tourism businesses across the sunshine state, with 31 award categories in total.
Ranging from best Major Tourist Attraction and Luxury Accommodation provider, to top Adventure Tourism, the winners in each category showcase the finest experiences and services that Queensland has to offer visitors.
Nominees from the Bundaberg Region include:
- Lady Musgrave Experience
- Hinkler Hall of Aviation
- Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Expereince
- Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
- The Windmill Cafe Bargara
- Splitters Farm
Should the Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience win the gold award again this year, they will enter the Hall of Fame, having received gold in the category three times.
Both the Windmill Café Bargara and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort previously won awards at the event in 2019.
With a total of 81 Awards, including 32 gold, 26 silver and 23 bronze awards up for grabs, the celebratory evening reminds Queenslanders that the Sunshine State is ready to shine again as a top tourist destination.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said all nominees demonstrated the quality and professionalism of operators in the state who deliver exceptional attractions and visitor experiences.
This year, the Queensland Tourism Awards will not only recognise the best businesses in tourism, but will also acknowledge that many operators have done it tough, showing exceptional resilience to survive.
In 2021, a new award category, the Judges Award for Innovation and Resilience has been introduced to recognise the perseverance of tourism operators. Awarding gold to one outstanding business showing grit and adaptability when visitor numbers dropped.
“While our borders may have closed to international and many interstate visitors, 2021 was a year in which Queenslanders were able to travel closer to home,” Mr Gschwind said.
“Many of us experienced a renewed appreciation for the incredible sights and activities right on our doorstep.
“When borders reopen, Queensland’s resilient tourism operators will not only capture the attention of travellers from interstate and from around the world, but they will also continue impressing Queenslanders holidaying at home.
“For more than three decades, the annual Awards have been tourism’s night to celebrate and be rewarded for its determination and excellence.”
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Queensland Tourism Awards were important for recognising the hard work that goes into making Queensland Australia’s favourite holiday destination.
“It has been a turbulent 18 months for Queensland tourism,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Through the challenges of the pandemic, we’ve seen the resilience, determination and creativity of tourism operators.
“From what I’ve seen and experienced as Queensland’s Tourism Minister, every single operator – from small and medium-sized to large corporates – deserves recognition for hard work and persistence in 2021.”
Each year, the winners from award categories 1 to 25, gain automatic entry into the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, which will be held at Sunshine Coast Convention Centre on Friday 18 March.
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I am at a loss as to why the Best Tourism Experience in the Bundaberg region (confirmed again by their recent win at the Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce & Bundaberg Tourism awards) why Lady Musgrave Experience is not in the Queensland Tourism Awards.
Their investment into this region as a sole operator is unprecedented with the launch of Lady Musgrave HQ, their fighting resilience to keep going through massive COVID challenges, has been passed over when it could really be flying the flag for the region (again).
Just astonishing….
Most of Bundabergs tourism attractions have been recently upgraded already & we have a growing number accommodation options that have been renovated. Either just before COVID hit or during the border shut period what we need is a national TV advertisement highlighting all of it time it for turtle hatching season by then we should be all opened up.
If we could get the now very late CBD rework done as well that would help continually delaying just makes it look dated compared to everything else that has already been done. Where ready for a post COVID tourism boom our CBD is not…