Airlie Beach wins gold as the small town destination of the year
If you haven’t been there yet you’re clearly missing out, as the three-time seaside winner makes the tourism hall of fame. SEE THE AWARD RANKINGS.
Whitsunday
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Queensland's holiday hotspots and hideaways have been judged and a Greater Whitsundays seaside community has come out in the top spot.
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s (QTIC) Top Tourism Town awards have dubbed Airlie Beach the state’s best small town tourist destination.
Beating out Longreach and Agnes Water, Airlie took the Gold Top Small Tourism Town award (population between 1,500 and 5,000) for the third consecutive year and subsequently has been inducted into the QTICs hall of fame.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor, Ry Colins said he was excited that Airlie Beach had now entered the Hall of Fame after their hat-trick of wins.
“Tourism is one of the three key pillars for our regional economy, and winning gold for three consecutive years is just a reward for the resilience and passion of our tourist operators and the leadership shown of Tourism Whitsundays,” Mr Collins said.
Tourism Whitsundays CEO Rick Hamilton said “We are so proud to be recognised as a top tourism destination, not just for our stunning scenery and vibrant town centre, but also for the action-packed activities that make Airlie Beach so unforgettable.”
But the good times were still rolling for The Whitsundays as Bowen beat out Rockhampton for third place in the Top Tourism Town category (population over 5,000), losing to Redcliff and Roma.
“This is a great outcome not only for our resort town of Airlie Beach but also for Bowen winning bronze and also for Collinsville who made the finals for the Top Tiny Tourism Town highlighting the diverse range of visitors experiences our Whitsunday region offers,” Mr Collins said.
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