Four Far North firms in finals for awards

FOUR Far Northern tourism businesses have reached the finals of the Australian Tourism Awards being announced on Thursday.

Paronella Park, Rainforestation Nature Park, Small World Journeys and Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut will be representing Tropical

North Queensland and the state at the tourism night of nights in Canberra.

The four tourism firms won gold at the 35th annual Queensland Tourism Awards in November last year.

“Businesses such as Paronella Park, Rainforestation Nature Park, Small World Journeys and Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut exemplify the extraordinary dedication and innovation of tourism operators across the state – all of whom are helping the Queensland tourism industry thrive,” said Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind.

Paronella Park staff are looking forward to celebrating the best in the tourism industry with their national peers.

Paronella Park co-owner Mark Evans said progressing to the Australian Tourism Awards was an honour.

“There are a lot of wonderful competitors in our category, so we do feel a little nervous,” he said.

“Ultimately no matter the result, we feel proud to represent our beautiful region and state on a national level”.

Rainforestation sales and marketing director Ben Woodward said their business and employees were “very excited and pleased to be the Queensland winner and a finalist in the Australian Tourism Awards”.

“It represents a partnership between two families that began in 1993,” he said.