Inland NSW Tourism applauds the many winners who topped their categories in the 10th anniversary year of the CountryLink Inland NSW Tourism Awards on Saturday, 27 July in Moree.
Regional tourism’s night of nights, the CountryLink Inland NSW Tourism Awards comprise the best of regional tourism operators from across four NSW tourism regions: Inland, Central, Riverina and the Murray River.
In a fitting win, INTA’s 2013 host town, Moree, was recognised for its Visitor Information and Services.
Inland members also scooped the Accommodation category, taking out the Unique, Standard and Hosted Accommodation accolades.
Overall congratulations go to:
1. Boggabri Drover’s Campfire Event, Boggabri – Community Festivals and Events
2. Gold Trails – New Tourism Development
3. DAG Sheep Station, Nundle – Unique Accommodation
4. The Lodge Outback Motel, Broken Hill – Standard Accommodation
5. Eldee Station, Broken Hill – Hosted Accommodation
6. DAG Sheep Station, Nundle – Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
7. Broken Hill City Council, Broken Hill – Destination Marketing
8. Tri State Safaris, Broken Hill – Tour and/or Transport Operator
9. Green Gully Track, Walcha – Adventure Tourism
10. Tourism Moree, Moree – Visitor Information and Services
11. Tri State Safaris/Mutawintji Tours, Broken Hill – Indigenous Tourism
12. Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo – Tourist Attraction
13. Nundle Woollen Mill, Nundle – Heritage and Cultural Tourism
In a completely new category assessed by judges across all INTA entrants, the Royal Flying Doctors Service’s Bruce Langford Visitor’s Centre, Broken Hill won the industry’s Best Digital Presence.
Broken Hill City Council was awarded the ‘best of the best’ Judges Award for its Broken Hill for Real Destination Marketing campaign.
In addition to his two category wins, Michael McCulkin, director of Inland NSW Tourism and owner of Tri State Safaris, was also recognised for his outstanding contribution to regional tourism by an individual with the prestigious Ted Wilson Award.
Congratulations also go to the other Inland region finalists, including:
Experience the Highs, Armidale – Destination Marketing
DAG Sheep Station, Nundle – Tourist Attractions category
Silver City Mint and Art Centre, Broken Hill – Tourist Attractions category
Royal Flying Doctor Service, Broken Hill – Tourist Attractions category
Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth – Festivals and Events
Brewarrina Visitor Information and Cultural Centre – Heritage and Cultural Tourism
Yammu Ganu Gallery, Moree – Indigenous Tourism
Armidale Tourist Park and YHA, Armidale – Tourist and Caravan Parks
Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre, Quirindi – Visitor Information Centre
Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, Moree
Old Fashion Favourites, Broken Hill
The River House, Bingara – Accommodation
Inland NSW Tourism CEO Graham Perry congratulated all category winners on their accolades and their contribution to tourism excellence.
“The CountryLink Inland NSW Tourism Awards play an important role in recognising tourism excellence across regional NSW by awarding operators who are providing the best products and services for our visitors, said Mr Perry.
“The awards help contribute to increasing the calibre of what’s on offer by encouraging owners to build robust business plans and improve their business. The process provides a unique opportunity for owners to step back from their operations and work ‘on’ their business rather than ‘in’ it, which is essential.
“It’s also important for the overall economy; the latest statistics show domestic and international visitors to NSW destinations outside Sydney generated a massive 74.4 million nights of accommodation in regional areas and $12.9 billion in tourist expenditure*. Awards such as these play a vital part in ensuring we are putting our best foot forward to the consumer and supporting a strong tourism industry.”
Winners of the CountryLink Inland NSW Tourism Awards are automatically entered into the State-wide NSW Tourism Awards, which close in September and will be held in November.
The host town for the 2014 Inland NSW Tourism Awards is Griffith.
“We strongly encourage operators from across the region to consider entering the 2014 Inland NSW Tourism Awards since we know success flows from the process, both for the winners, and all those who enter. We look forward to seeing many businesses next year,” concluded Mr Perry.
* Source: Destination NSW Economic Value (http://www.destinationnsw.
com.au/our-industry/economic-
value) taken from National and International Visitor Surveys, YE March 2013, TRA