Carnival of Flowers and Camp Oven Festival Queensland Tourism Awards finalists
Posted by editor (editor) on Nov 19 2009
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Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers and Milmerran’s Australian Camp Oven Festival were named finalists at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced.

Mr Lawlor said the regional events were among seven finalists in the Festivals and Events Category, announced at a sell-out gala awards night on the Gold Coast this evening.

“The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is one of Queensland’s longest-running, best-loved events, bringing thousands of visitors to the city each year and injecting tourism dollars into the local economy,” he said.

“Likewise, the Australian Camp Oven Festival at Milmerran is a fantastic regional event which encourages visitors to explore the Darling Downs and enjoy some Queensland country hospitality.”

Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said it was fantastic to see so many operators in the Toowoomba region excelling at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards.

“Regional events and attractions bring visitors to a destination, inject money into the local economy and create jobs for the locals,” Mr Shine said.

Mr Lawlor encouraged more tourism operators in the region to consider entering the awards next year.

“The Queensland Tourism Awards is all about rewarding excellence in quality and service delivery.

“Winners range from small family-owned and run operations to major hotel chains and attractions - an operator is never too big or too small to enter,” he said.

He also congratulated Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards in such spectacular fashion.

“A thank you must also go to our awards’ platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support,” he said.

QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards' 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants' high degree of professionalism and business acumen.

"In these tough economic times, it becomes more imperative than ever for tourism businesses to employ sound planning and rigorous self-assessment," Mr Gschwind said.


"The awards remain one of the best tools to guide operators through this process, with business planning a key component of every entry.

"Competition was as strong as ever this year and the incredible turn-out at this year’s awards ceremony is a great indication of our industry’s passion for and confidence in tourism in Queensland.”

All Queensland Tourism Award winners will progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Hobart on 26 February, 2010.

A full list of winners and finalists is attached and will be online from early next week at www.queenslandtourismawards.com.au

Last changed: Nov 19 2009 at 9:51 AM