Hervey Bay has taken out two tourism industry award wins in the past week.
Today the Bay was announced as the seventh most popular spot in the country in the Wotif 2021 Aussie Town of the Year Awards, while WetSide won the top spot in Wotif’s Top 10 Amusement Parks and Water Parks in Australia.
“We are thrilled to be in the top 10 destinations for the Aussie Town of the Year Award,” Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said.
“Just to be nominated is recognition of the hard work and dedication of those involved in the tourism industry, as well as residents who go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome.
“The exposure will help immensely as we rebuild our tourism industry in the wake of COVID-19.”
Now in its fourth year, the annual Aussie tourism awards recognise some of the country’s best destinations.
“It continues to be a privilege to announce the winners of these annual tourism awards but after the last twelve months, this year’s awards are more important than ever,” Wotif Managing Director, Daniel Finch said.
He said the winning destinations were awarded based on their accommodation quality, affordability and traveller satisfaction.
This year the awards also recognised destinations that had met the changing needs of travellers over the last 12 months, by offering increased flexibility, good-value deals and appealing activities and attractions.
Mr Finch said many of the winning towns had used the last 12 months to renew their offerings and re-emerge stronger as a result of the ongoing challenges.
“Based on our conversations with this year’s finalists, while all agree there is still a long way to go, with some areas reporting a up to a 90% profit loss during the height of the pandemic, it’s promising to see optimism is high,” he said.
The award-winning destinations cover a diverse mix of experiences and attractions to get Aussies excited about the travel possibilities in their own backyard.
Being named in the Australian top 10 and one of only two destinations from Queensland was a tremendous credit to the tourism operators of the region, said Fraser Coast Tourism & Events CEO Martin Simons.
“This pristine, natural environment is the perfect place to reboot for a weekend, a week or a month after the journey we have all been on in 2020,” he said.
“There is room to spread out and connect with nature in a way that is impossible in the cities – and we are within easy driving reach of 70 percent of the State’s population.”
Wotif 2021 Aussie Town of the Year Award winners
1. Cairns, QLD;
2. Pokolbin, NSW;
3. Apollo Bay, VIC;
4. Mudgee, NSW;
5. Lakes Entrance, VIC;
6. McLarenVale, SA;
7. Hervey Bay, QLD;
8. Exmouth, WA;
9. Port Macquarie, NSW;
10. The Entrance, NSW.
