ECO-CERTIFIED OPERATORS SHINE BRIGHT AT QLD TOURISM AWARDS
Ecotourism Australia certified operators have cleaned up at the Queensland Tourism Awards, held in Brisbane on Friday, the 10th of November.
In a show of recognition for those who continue to inspire environmentally sustainable and culturally responsible tourism, 23 of the Sunshine State’s leading eco-certified operators picked up 30 awards on the night, including ten gold, nine silver, eight bronze and three highly commended.
“This is a fantastic achievement,” said Rod Hillman, CEO of Ecotourism Australia.
“Yet again, Ecotourism Australia certified tour operators shine bright at the Queensland Tourism Awards with a huge haul of 30 awards. We wish the gold award winners all the best as they move forward to the nationals.”
Eco-certified winners made up 49% of eligible finalists across all categories, with gold awards going to:
- Paronella Park (Tourist Attractions)
- Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort (The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism)
- Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park (Qantas Award for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism)
- Ocean Rafting (Major Tour & Transport Operators)
- Fun Over Fifty (Tour & Transport Operators)
- TreeTop Challenge (Adventure Tourism)
- Cobbold Village (Hosted Accommodation)
- Cumberland Charter Yachts (Unique Accommodation)
- Bedarra Island Resort (Luxury Accommodation)
- Island Jet Boating (New Tourism Business)
Also to be commended are Queensland’s eco-certified silver and bronze award winners:
Silver
- Hartley's Crocodile Adventures (Major Tourist Attractions)
- Fun Over Fifty (The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism; Cultural Tourism)
- Mungalla Aboriginal Tours (Qantas Award for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism)
- Passions of Paradise (Major Tour & Transport Operators)
- Ocean Safari (Tour & Transport Operators)
- Red Cat Adventures (Adventure Tourism)
- Whitsunday Escape (Unique Accommodation)
- Kellys Beach Resort (Standard Accommodation)
Bronze
- Daintree Discovery Centre (Tourist Attractions; The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism)
- Mossman Gorge Centre (Qantas Award for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism)
- Sunlover Reef Cruises (Major Tour and Transport Operators)
- Whitsunday Jetski Tours (Tour & Transport Operators)
- Ocean Rafting (Adventure Tourism)
- Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat (Hosted Accommodation)
- Walkabout Creek Adventures (New Tourism Business)
We would also like to congratulate Cobbold Gorge, Red Cat Adventures and Whitsunday Jetski Tours for their Highly Commended awards.
For more information on the QLD Tourism Awards, visit: http://www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au/
[Photo credit: Queensland Tourism Awards]