Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers: Iconic tourism event named best in Queensland

Toowoomba’s signature tourism event has taken out one of the top honours at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council Queensland Tourism Awards.

The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has taken out the top honour at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s Queensland Tourism Awards 2023.

The massive, month-long celebration of all things floral won gold in the Major Festivals and Events category on Friday night, beating out the Isa Rodeo and Rare Spares Rockynats.

The gold comes a year after the carnival won a silver in the same category in 2022.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s CEO Brett Fraser said Toowoomba offered a unique blend of history and culture, parks, eateries and wineries, making it popular with holiday-makers.

Sarah Bordin with son Maverick and daughter Sophia Bordin visiting from Kyogle, NSW admire the floral display in Queens Park for Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers, Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Toowoomba is a city that captures the beauty of all four seasons, and there’s no better showcase of this than the vibrant Carnival of Flowers,” he said.

“It’s just one of the many reasons tourists are drawn to the region.

“Toowoomba should be extremely proud of its welcoming community spirit. It’s something you can’t quantify, but it’s often what visitors remember most about their stay.”

The carnival has exploded in popularity in recent years after it was expanded over the full month of September, with major events like the Festival of Food and Wine, and the Floral Parade held on consecutive weekends.

The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers generated more that $22 million in 2022 after event attendance increased by 28 per cent, with 364,775 people and 121,535 overnight stays recorded.

According to recent statistics from Tourism Research Australia, Southern Queensland is growing as a tourism destination.

Domestic overnight visitor expenditure increased by 25.3 per cent to $1.3 billion in the financial year ending June 2023.

Part of this is thanks to a 30.7 per cent increase in visitors from New South Wales.

Mr Fraser said the Carnival of Flowers played a significant role in boosting tourism in the region.

“It is more than just an event, it’s a showcase of the beauty and vitality of the region,” he said.

“Winning Gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into making the carnival a success each year.”