Tasmanian Tourism Awards: On Board luxury cruise business wins big on tourism’s night of nights
After a tumultuous period for the state’s tourism operators, the industry has a new lease on life, with star businesses being recognised on Tassie tourism’s night of nights. See the full list of 22 winners.
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A luxury expedition cruise company taking nature-lovers deep into the remote Tasmanian wilderness has been named the state’s best new tourism business as the industry continues to enjoy a post-Covid rebound.
The 2023 Tasmanian Tourism Awards held its annual gala ceremony at Wrest Point on Friday night, attended by 400 people.
It comes amid an atmosphere of optimism in the industry, as visitor numbers inch closer to pre-pandemic levels.
Tasmania welcomed 1.3 million visitors in the year to March 2023, nearing the 1.5 million achieved in the same period ending March 2019, the year prior to the pandemic.
The state recorded a visitor spend of $3.95 billion in the 12 months to March 2023, which was a 59 per cent jump compared to March 2019.
The Hobart-based cruise company, On Board, previously known as Tasmanian Boat Charters, picked up the gong in the New Tourism Business category.
On Board’s founder and skipper Pieter van der Woude leads intrepid travellers on multi-day expeditions to Port Davey, the South Coast, and the East Coast, during which they enjoy ample comforts and mod cons aboard the luxury catamaran Odalisque III.
Pieter’s daughter Alice van der Woude has led the design of the On Board experience and the business has been taking passengers since January this year.
Five businesses racked up consecutive wins in a single category for the third year in a row, earning them automatic entry into the Tasmanian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame.
These were Launceston’s Junction Arts Festival Inc., the Tasmanian Walking Company, wukalina Walk, Coal River Farm, and Peppers Silo Hotel.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills said Covid-era border closures had dealt a severe blow to tourism operators and some businesses were forced to close up, while others were still recovering.
“However, the resilience of our industry and operators shone through – we saw a bounce-back in visitor numbers over the past two years as Australians explored at home,” she said.
“What is really helping our industry is the increase in visitor spending, which is part of our strategy to build a sustainable industry by increasing yield rather than relying only on increases in numbers.”
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys won the Positive Impact Award this year, which recognises tourism operators for their commitment to environmental, social and ethical responsibilities.
A total of 23 gold medallists were named on the night, while Karen Phillips from Apartments on Fraser Bicheno won the 2023 Tourism Champion award and Anna Terry from The Truffle Farm at Deloraine took out the Minister’s Young Achiever Award.
Premier and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the “ongoing success and strength of the industry is a credit to all the people working in it, helping to cement Tasmania as a must-visit travel destination”.
Each category winner at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards has automatically been named a finalist in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, to be held in Darwin next year.
2023 TASMANIAN TOURISM AWARDS – GOLD AWARD WINNERS:
– Major Tourist Attractions – Gorge Scenic Chairlift
– Tourist Attractions – Seahorse World
– Major Festivals & Events – Tasmania’s Taste of Summer
– Festivals & Events – Junction Arts Festival Inc.
– Eco-tourism – Tasmanian Walking Company
– Cultural Tourism – Cascades Female Factory Historic Site
– Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences – wukalina Walk
– Tourism Retail, Hire and Services – Coal River Farm
– Visitor Information Services – Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre
– Business Event Venues – Peppers Silo Hotel
– Major Tour & Transport Operators – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys
– Tour & Transport Operators – Air Adventure Australia
– Adventure Tourism – Blue Derby Pods Ride
– Tourism Marketing & Campaigns- Business Events Tasmania
– Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services – Grain of the Silos
– Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries – Bangor Vineyard Shed
– Caravan & Holiday Parks – BIG 4 St Helens Holiday Park
– Hosted Accommodation – The Dragonfly Inn
– Unique Accommodation – The Cove Tasmania
– Self Contained Accommodation – The Granary Richmond Hill
– 4-4.5 Start Deluxe Accommodation – Ship Inn Stanley
– New Tourism Business – On Board
– Excellence in Food Tourism – The Truffle Farm
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