The Queensland Tourism Awards are back and set to be bigger and better than before, as the tourism industry comes together to champion the outstanding achievement and commitment from operators around the state.
Reflecting extraordinary industry resilience, the 36th annual Queensland Tourism Awards – hosted by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) – will return in 2021 and Queensland businesses are being urged to enter and showcase their efforts and resilience over the past two years.
Habitat Noosa Managing Director Wade Batty said that the return of the awards offered tourism operators the chance to celebrate their achievements and reflect on the challenges they had overcome.
“Entering the tourism awards offers us as operators the chance to measure ourselves against our peers in the market and truly test our strengths and weaknesses,” he said.
“We were actually halfway through the construction of another 13 Glamping Tents when COVID shut down the business.
“However, in parallel with many other significant improvements the Company embarked on during the COVID lockdown, when the doors re-opened to Queenslanders – we were ready with a refined product offering that appealed to the Domestic Market.”
QTIC Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said that the return of the Queensland Tourism Awards offered tourism operators a chance to come together to celebrate a path to recovery and reflect on the challenges they had overcome.
“Tourism remains a driving force for regional economies and communities across Queensland, accounting for one in nine Queensland jobs, and nearly one in six jobs in Far North Queensland1,” Mr Gschwind said.
“The return of the Queensland Tourism Awards signals a significant milestone in confidence for tourism – albeit in the domestic forefront for now – and provides the opportunity to support and re- energise the industry and unify with those who are working hard to rebuild the sector.
“Undeniably 2020 was a uniquely challenging year, however, Queensland tourism operators took it in their stride, and we saw the number of Queenslanders taking a trip in their own state soar – with regional Queensland tourism up 12 per cent in December 2020, when compared to the same period in 20192.
“One positive legacy of the COVID-crisis for tourism has been a very effective and agile partnership between industry and government.
“The Queensland Government has been very responsive with its support measures and we look forward to building on this solid basis.”
Nominations for the 2021 Queensland Tourism Awards are open now. For more information and to enter, visit www.qtic.com.au/queensland-tourism-awards/.
