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The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has launched a new tourism program in 2021 to recognise the state’s diverse and outstanding regional destinations.

QTIC’s Top Tourism Town Awards aim to recognise and reward towns that offer an amazing visitor experience, where tourism operators, businesses, and the local community work together to make their town the best destination.

Introducing the awards, QTIC Chief Executive, Daniel Gschwind advised “the program is being introduced in each state and territory as a new initiative this year, in parallel with but separate from the Australian Tourism Awards series.

“Our towns support local businesses and local jobs, and keep our regional communities thriving. The Awards will provide an opportunity for us to showcase these towns as great visitor destinations in Queensland”.

“With the COVID situation, this is actually a great time to draw attention to regional destinations and showcase our local communities to an Australian audience”.

Welcoming the initiative, Wayne Clift from The Tourism Group commented “we encourage tourism operators and locals to unite and take the opportunity to showcase what you’re most proud of, work with your accredited Visitor Information Centre to share the passion for your town and show Queensland and indeed the Nation what a Top Tourism Town looks like”.

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Awards’ judges had an enviable task ahead of them, adding “with so many great tourist towns in Queensland, the judges will face some difficult choices.

“This is an excellent way of celebrating the resilience and effort that Queenslanders put into making their town a favourite destination.

“After a tough year with COVID, this initiative will help support jobs and showcase what makes Queensland great.”

There will be two awards in this program:

• Top Tourism Town Award - those with a population over 5,000; and
• Small Tourism Town Award - those with a population below 5,000.

Nominations will be accepted through accredited Visitor Information Centre from 19th January, with submission due 30th March.

For more information on the Awards go to www.qtic.com.au/top-tourism-award/

Images: Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast.

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