Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has taken out Gold for the third year in a row at the Australian Tourism Award night in Launceston – winning a spot in the coveted National Tourism Hall of Fame – Queensland’s first inductee in a decade.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) Chief Executive and Australian Tourism Awards Chair Daniel Gschwind said that Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers was a deserving recipient, showcasing itself as one of the best events in the country.
“Locals and visitors alike have been delighted by the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and to see it recognised on a national scale is fantastic for the Southern Queensland Country region and for Queensland,†Mr Gschwind said.
In addition, Queensland locals, the Irwin family, was awarded the prestigious title of Australian Tourism Legends – recognising their continued contribution to Australian tourism through the promotion of Australia as a destination of choice, and their tireless work in protecting the environment and ensuring the quality of our destinations are maintained for future generations.
Queensland continues to reinforce its reputation as a world-class destination taking home six Gold, eight Silver and three Bronze across the 25 categories.
Mr Gschwind said it was fantastic to see the awards shared across the State with 17 operators from Tropical North Queensland to the Gold Coast getting a piece of the action – one of Queensland’s best results yet.
“To reach the finalists stage of the Australian Tourism Awards is a great honour in itself and all finalists should be immensely proud of their achievements.
“These winners are truly the best of the best, with strong competition across all categories this year,†Mr Gschwind said.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the results highlighted the strength of Queensland’s world-class tourism industry.
“Queensland’s $25 billion tourism industry has boomed over the last 12 months. With a $14 billion pipeline for tourism infrastructure pipeline, an $800 million major events calendar and great trends in domestic and international visitor numbers, we know this sector will continue to grow in the future,†Ms Jones said.
“I’m so proud of all the Queensland winners and nominees recognised at the Australian Tourism Awards tonight and I congratulate them for their outstanding contributions to our industry.
More information is available at www.australiantourismawards.com.au or www.qtic.com.au.
