TWO local businesses have made the finals of the NSW Tourism Awards – Bago Vineyards and the Telegraph Retreat Luxury Cottages.
The NSW Tourism Awards recognise excellence and the achievements of the NSW tourism industry across 31 categories including attractions, festivals and events, ecotourism, tour and transport operators, marketing and accommodation and outstanding contribution from individuals.
The awards are a submission and inspection-based program presented by the Tourism Industry Council NSW, which provides the opportunity to publicly recognise and showcase the state’s finest tourism operators.
Other finalists from the region include the Nambucca River Tourist Park and South West Rocks Dive Centre.
The Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, announced the finalists and said tourism currently contributed more than $26 billion to the NSW visitor economy from overnight visitor expenditure and created one in 24 jobs in NSW.
“The awards provide a valuable role in highlighting and recognising the diversity and strength of our state’s tourism attractions, accommodation and experiences,” he said.
The awards program aims to reinforce the value of tourism to the state, provide a benchmark for best practice within the tourism industry, encourage the continual raising of standards and celebrate the industry’s creativity, professionalism and innovation.
A total of 233 individual tourism operators have made submissions across the 31 award categories with 172 named as finalists. Winners in 27 of the 31 categories at state level will automatically progress to the national level to compete in the Australian Tourism Awards.
The 2013 NSW Tourism Awards will be held at Royal Randwick Racecourse on 28 November.
For information visit www.nswtourismawards.com.au.
