TASMANIAN TOURISM STARS SHINE BRIGHT IN DARK TIME

ONCE AGAIN, TASMANIAN TOURISM OPERATORS HAVE BEEN RECOGNISED AS AMONG THE VERY BEST IN AUSTRALIA AT THE AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS ANNOUNCED IN CANBERRA OVERNIGHT.

Tasmanian operators won seven Gold Medals, and another 10 operators finished in the top three in their category. This is not just the best performance of any State or Territory, but our best overall result ever.

All Tasmanians can be very proud of what we have achieved together. We are one of the world leaders in tourism. We have in our backyard some of the best holiday experiences in the world.

Tourism operators across the country are going through some really difficult times following the bushfires, and with the spread of Coronavirus. In Tasmania we have been less affected than other destinations across the country, but there are still many operators and businesses across the State who have been affected.

The next 12 months is going to be tough as we work to help the industry recover. In the meantime, the industry’s message to the Australian community is to ‘Holiday at Home’ this year, and what last night’s Qantas Australian Tourism Awards shows is that Tasmania is well placed to become the destination of choice for many Australians.

Tasmanians need not be reminded how special and unique our own State is. Our natural environment, our rich heritage and unique regional towns, and the amazing produce and hospitality that underpins our strong tourism brand, is what we simply call our way of life.

But our tourism operators, including those who have been so successful in this year’s Australian Tourism Awards, do offer new and different ways to experience our State.

Who wouldn’t want to go kayaking on the Hobart waterfront? And what better way to do it then with Roaring 40s Kayaking, who have won their first Australian Tourism Award for Adventure Tourism.

Or spend a weekend down the Far South, staying with Gary and Lorraine Ashdown at their gold medal winning Bed & Breakfast at Dover. While you’re down there, visit the reopened Tahune Airwalk, or Hasting Cave, and support a local economy who have had a very tough 12-months.

As proud Tasmanians, we should also reach out to our family and friends interstate who right now might be weighing up where to holiday this year - and invite them down. They might want to stay at our gold-medal winning, ibis Styles Hobart or MACq01 Hotels, or have their lives changed forever by spending four days on the rejuvenating Maria Island Walk. Or they could pencil in next February’s MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival – officially Australia’s premier Major Festival and Event.

There are other operators in all corners of the State who just missed out on Golds, but are nevertheless, fantastic reminders of the many quality and unique visitor experiences across Tasmania.