Five tourism awards for Tropical North Queensland
Posted by editor (editor) on Nov 19 2009
2009 >>

Tropical North Queensland tour operator Passions of Paradise has entered the Tourism Hall of Fame following its third consecutive win at the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced this evening.

The Great Barrier Reef tour operator won its third back-to-back award in the Adventure Tourism category, and also won the Major Tour and/or Transport Operator category, announced at a gala ceremony on the Gold Coast tonight.

Four other tourism operators also won their category including: Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which received the Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism for the second year running; Daintree Discovery Centre, which won the Tourist Attractions category; and Paronella Park, which took out the award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism.

“Passions of Paradise is one of the true shining lights at this year’s Queensland Tourism Awards,” Mr Lawlor said.

“The tour operator has grown from strength-to-strength and to receive two awards this year, plus an induction into the Tourism Hall of Fame, is a credit to the entire Passions of Paradise team.”

Mr Lawlor said it was also encouraging to see a number of Tropical North Queensland entrants amongst the finalists including:
• Paronella Park (Tourist Attractions)
• Undara Experience (Tourist Attractions)
• Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours (Tourist Attractions) (Adventure Tourism) (Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award)
• Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd (Indigenous Tourism)
• Coral Princess Cruises (Major Tour and/or Transport Operator)
• Sunlover Reef Cruises (Major Tour and/or Transport Operator)
• CaPTA Group (Tourism Education and Training)
• Murdering Point Winery (Tourism Wineries)
• The Northern Greenhouse (Backpacker Accommodation)
• Red Mill House (Hosted Accommodation)
• Peppers Bale Resort (Luxury Accommodation)
• Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway (New Tourism Development)
• Daintree Discovery Centre (Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism and Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award)
• Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises (Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award)
• Calypso Reef Charters (Tour and/or Transport Operator)
• Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort (Tourist and Caravan Parks)


Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd and The Elandra resort at Mission Beach also received Judges’ Commendations.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said this was an overall fantastic result for the Tropical North Queensland tourism industry.

“It’s fantastic to see so many Tropical North Queensland operators excelling at this year's Queensland Tourism Awards,” he said.

"Regional attractions bring visitors to a destination, inject money into the local economy and create jobs for the locals.

Mr Lawlor 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.”

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 9:52 AM