Golden night for Tasmania at Australian Tourism Awards in Canberra

Tasmania has won the most medals out of any state or territory at the national tourism awards in Canberra. Check out which attractions topped the list.

TASMANIAN tourism operators are the toast of the nation after a golden night for the state at the Australian Tourism Awards in Canberra on Friday.

The state took home 17 awards – seven of them gold medals – out of the 25 categories, which was more than any other state or territory.

Port Arthur Historic Site, MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival, The Maria Island Walk, Roaring 40ºs Kayaking, Ashdowns of Dover Bed & Breakfast, Ibis Styles Hobart and MACq 01 Hotel all received the highest honour in their respective categories.

Tasmania claimed seven silver medals and three bronze across a range of other categories.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said the awards were an outstanding result for the country’s smallest state tourism industry.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania's Luke Martin. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“If there was a national league for tourism, we’d not only be in it, but are the premiers once again,’’ Mr Martin said.

“Nights like this again remind the rest of the country’s tourism industry that Tassie is doing some great things with some outstanding operators showcasing what really makes us special and unique.

“It’s also a reminder to Tasmanians that this year is the year to ‘holiday at home’, and we have some outstanding visitor experiences in our own backyard.”

Premier and Tourism Minister Peter Gutwein said the awards were a recognition of Tasmania’s “world class” tourism experiences.

“Recognised were a suite of world-class experiences, businesses and events, which demonstrate the breadth and depth of our incredible offerings as a state,’’ he said.

“For years Tasmania has quietly pursued the extraordinary, and we have definitely set ourselves apart from the crowd.

“On behalf of the Tasmanian Government, I congratulate all the entrants and medallists at this year’s awards.”

Premier Peter Gutwein during question time in state Parliament. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Mr Gutwein said the state’s tourism industry injects $2.5 billion into the economy and supports more than 42,000 local jobs.

Liberal Senator for Tasmania and Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism Jonathon Duniam said the result was a well-deserved accolade for the tourism industry and its operators.

“The depth of quality experiences that Tasmania has to offer was highlighted in the diverse range of gold winners, from our history, to festivals, deluxe accommodation and eco-tourism,’’ he said.

“Clearly Tassie not only has it all, but it has the best.

“I congratulate all Tasmanian award winners and nominees, you have done Tasmania proud.

“It is so important that we take this time to celebrate our tourism industry, particularly when the bushfires and impact of the coronavirus have been exceptionally challenging.

“While there are no silver bullets to ease the economic hardship being endured by many in our sector, our Government is continuing to work with industry and state and territory governments to support those affected,” Senator Duniam said.

AWARD WINNERS:

GOLD

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS – PORT ARTHUR HISTORIC SITE
Luke Martin: “Port Arthur Historic Site has for the second year in a row been judged Australia’s best Major Tourist Attraction, in a wonderful testament to the commitment and hard work of the committed and passionate staff at Port Arthur. No one should underestimate what an exceptional and well-run major attraction Port Arthur has become, and it’s a very fitting example to the rest of the industry about how you manage tourism and growing visitor numbers in a site of exceptional and sensitive significance.”

Port Arthur Historic Site Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

MAJOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS – MYSTATE AUSTRALIAN WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL 2019

Luke Martin: “For the first time, Hobart’s iconic Australian Wooden Boat Festival has been recognised as Australia’s top Major Festival or Event – a fantastic and hard earned recognition of what an exceptional and important tourism event this year.”

Australian Wooden Boat Festival – Parade of Sail pictured from the Young Endeavour PICTURE: MATT THOMPSON

ECO-TOURISM – THE MARIA ISLAND WALK

ADVENTURE TOURISM – ROARING 40ºS KAYAKING

Luke Martin: “Two of our most outstanding nature tourism operators, the Maria Island Walk and Roaring 40s Kayaking have won the Eco-tourism and Adventure Tourism Categories, reaffirming Tasmania’s reputation as Australia’s leading nature tourism and outdoor adventure destination. Both these businesses are run by Tasmanian families, who are passionate about our environment and deliver their guests truly immersive and quality experiences within Tasmania’s protected areas. They represent what our nature tourism sector is all about.”

ESCAPE: Tasmania Kayaking, Leena Lavonius – Roaring 40s Ocean Kayaking. Picture: Tourism Australia/Graham Freeman

HOSTED ACCOMMODATION – ASHDOWNS OF DOVER BED & BREAKFAST

Ashdowns of Dover Bed & Breakfast.

STANDARD ACCOMMODATION – IBIS STYLES HOBART

Ibis Styles Hobart.

DELUXE ACCOMMODATION – MACQ 01 HOTEL

The deck at MACq 01 hotel in Hobart, Tasmania. Picture: Federal Hotels Escape, Michael Wayne, Hobart

Luke Martin: “Southern Tasmanian Accommodation operators won three of the six accommodation categories announced on the night, with Ibis Styles Hobart judged Australia’s best standard accommodation, MACq01, Australia’s best deluxe accommodation for the second year, and Ashdown’s of Dover, Australia best hosted accommodation.”

“The entire Tasmanian tourism industry will be so rapt for Gary and Lorraine Ashdown, who have tonight been judged as operating Australia’s best Bed & Breakfast at Dover.

“Like all operators in the Far South, the Ashdown’s have had an incredibly difficult 12-months following last year’s bushfires, but through it all they’ve kept delivering an outstanding guest experience, and tonight’s result is a great filler for the whole region.”

SILVER

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS – THE UNCONFORMITY

The Unconformity at Lake Margaret. Tasmania's West Coast biennial arts festival. Picture: THE UNCONFORMITY.

CULTURAL TOURISM – HADLEY’S ORIENT HOTEL

SPECIALISED TOURISM SERVICES – LAUNCESTON AIRPORT

VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICES – WONDERS OF WYNYARD EXHIBITION AND VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

TOUR AND TRANSPORT OPERATORS – GORDON RIVER CRUISES

TOURISM WINERIES, DISTILLERIES AND BREWERIES – BANGOR VINEYARD SHED

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS – STILLWATER SEVEN – STILLWATER RESTAURANT AND SEVEN ROOMS

BRONZE

MAJOR TOUR AND TRANSPORT OPERATORS – PENNICOTT WILDERNESS JOURNEYS

DESTINATION MARKETING – AIR MOFO

SELF CONTAINED ACCOMMODATION – AVALON COASTAL RETREAT