Bundaberg Tourism nominated for most popular tourism office in 2023 National Travel Industry Awards
Bundaberg Tourism has been nominated as the most popular tourism office in a prestigious 2023 national travel award as tourists return to the region in record numbers.
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Bundaberg Tourism is in the running for Australia’s most popular tourism office at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards, alongside a prestigious list of candidates including Destination Canada, the Japan National Tourism Organisation and Tourism New Zealand.
The nominees were announced by the Australian Travel Industry Association on Monday, August 28 with voting running through to September 15.
A record number of more than 1,700 nominations were received across 36 categories, with nominations and voting restricted to peers working within the travel industry.
Bundaberg Tourism CEO Katherine Reed said the nomination is recognition of the collaborative approach of the Bundaberg tourism industry in withstanding the decline of international tourism through the Covid pandemic.
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“Bundaberg has stayed connected and relevant during tough times and this nomination humbles us as we reflect on the fact that positivity, resilience and a willingness to collaborate are keys to the region’s success,” Ms Reid said.
“The Bundaberg region’s tourism industry has seen extraordinary growth over the past three years as our domestic marketing and PR has seen Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef thrust into the global spotlight.”
“Under the leadership of Bundaberg Tourism ... the industry has worked collectively to nurture strong partnerships that ensure international travellers can book their long-awaited Southern Great Barrier Reef trips through their local travel agents and online distributors.”
“The industry’s economic impacts within the region continue to grow as we experience a strong return of international guests and the continued recognition of our place as the start of the Great Barrier Reef.”
Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long congratulated Bundaberg Tourism and all nominees recognised in the 2023 NTI Awards, which will be held in Melbourne on November 18.
“ATIA would like to congratulate all the nominees for this year’s NTIAs and all the hard work they do in promoting the excellence of Australian travel,” Mr Long said.
Bundaberg Tourism marketing manager Ellie Tonkin said the most popular tourism destinations in the region include Bargara, the Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience, Elliott Heads, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Mon Repos Turtle Centre and the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
While the preferred travel destinations have not changed in the past four years, Ms Tonkin said Bundaberg Tourism has seen “enormous growth” in the volume of people travelling to the region.
Roy Morgan Research data shows that visitors to Bundaberg and North Burnett have doubled since 2019, with domestic travel playing a key role in the region’s resurgence.
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The Southern Great Barrier Reef saw more than 2.3 million visitors spending $1.7 billion in the year ending March 2023, a 31.9 per cent increase from the year prior.
Domestic travellers spent $361 million in overnight expenditure in Bundaberg, an all-time record within the region.
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