Ingham a top tourism town
INGHAM is set to benefit from a boom in domestic tourism and the imminent opening of the trans-tasman travel bubble.
The town in the picturesque Hinchinbrook Shire has been named a finalist for Queensland’s Small Top Tourism Town, squaring off against 37 rivals.
The awards are hosted by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and “recognise and celebrate towns that offer an amazing visitor experience”.
QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards showcased Queensland’s fantastic, diverse holiday destinations.
“With the current focus on domestic tourism, now is the time to draw attention to our regional destinations and to put the spotlight on our tourism operators and communities who keep our regions thriving,” he said.
“We are thrilled with the response from towns from across Queensland who have entered the awards, with 37 fantastic nominations.”
Hinchinbrook, on the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Cairns, boasts a plethora of natural attractions, including the Great Barrier Reef, Hinchinbrook Island and the famed Thorsborne Trail, Orpheus Island, Tyto Wetlands Walk, Mungalla Aboriginal Tours, Wallaman Falls and the Girringun National Park, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
In addition to 37 entries in the Small Top Tourism Town category, there are 15 entrants for Large Top Tourism Towns, including Townsville. Award winners are selected by public voting that ends on April 26.
Individual voters go in the running to win a $2000 Apollo Motorhome travel package.
“We call on everybody to cast their vote and show their support for our domestic tourism industry, which plays such an important role in communities throughout the state,” Mr Gschwind said.
“It has been a tough COVID year, now it is time to celebrate the impressive travel opportunities we have in Queensland.”
The winner of the Top Tourism Town Award (population over 5000) will receive a $25,000 consulting package provided by Earthcheck.
The winner of the Top Small Tourism Town Award (population below 5000) will receive a $7500 tourism consultancy package provided by The Tourism Group.
Small Top Tourism Town
nominees are: Agnes Water 1770, Airlie Beach, Boonah, Canungra, Cunnamulla, Eumundi, Georgetown, Ingham, Karumba, Kuranda, Longreach, Montville, Mount Morgan, Orchid Beach, Quilpie, Rainbow Beach, Richmond, St George, Thargomindah, Winton, Woodford and Yungaburra.
Large Top Tourism Town nominees are: Bowen, Bribie, Bundaberg, Ipswich, Mareeba, Maryborough, Noosa, Redcliffe, Redlands, Rockhampton, Stanthorpe, Tambourine Mountain, Townsville, Warwick and Yeppoon.