Record medal haul for SA at Australian Tourism Awards

South Australia has won a record 14 medals at the most prestigious event on the national tourism calendar, and we have also won the right to host next year’s gala awards night.

The Australian Tourism Awards will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre in April 2015.

Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said hosting the event was a great chance to showcase South Australia to hundreds of tourism operators from around Australia, as well as generating an estimated $1.5 million for the State’s economy.

“It is a great honour to host the awards, as they are recognised as the highest honour in the Australian tourism industry,” he said.

“Tourism operators from across the nation will have an opportunity to find out why Adelaide has been named one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities to visit in 2014.”

The National Tourism Alliance made the announcement at last night’s 2014 awards ceremony in Sydney, where three South Australian businesses won their categories:

• Tour and/or Transport Operator – Tour BarossaTourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries – Pindarie Cellar Door
• New Tourism Development – Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions (Great White Adventure)

Four silver medals were awarded to South Australian tourism operators:

• Tourist and Caravan Parks – BIG4 Adelaide Shores Caravan Park
• Unique Accommodation – Rawnsley Park Station Eco-Villas
• Standard Accommodation – Narnu Farm
• Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism – Adelaide Shores

Seven bronze medals were also awarded:

• Tourist Attractions – Hahndorf Farm Barn
• Major Festivals and Events – 2013 Clipsal 500 Adelaide
• Ecotourism – Rawnsley Park Station Eco-Villas
• Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services – Windy Point Restaurant and Café
• Hosted Accommodation – The Australasian Circa 1858
• Deluxe Accommodation – Emaroo Port Hughes
• Local Government Award for Tourism – Alexandrina Council

Minister Bignell congratulated the winners. “All of the South Australian winners at last night’s award ceremony in Sydney are part of the reason why our State is becoming a must-see destination for more and more interstate and overseas tourists.”

The Adelaide Convention Bureau teamed up with the South Australian Tourism Commission on the successful bid, and Bureau CEO Damian Kitto said about 800 tourism operators and industry leaders were expected to attend the event.

“Hosting the Australian Tourism Awards offers Adelaide the prime opportunity to showcase our exciting infrastructure developments to the nation’s tourism industry,” he said.

“Importantly, there will be hundreds of interstate guests who will stay on to enjoy the many touring experiences our state’s regions have to offer.”