Tourism winners from the Snowy Monaro, Bega Valley and Eurobodalla. Photo: Ian Campbell.
Some of the best and brightest tourism operators in Southern New South Wales have been acknowledged at the Regional Tourism Awards in Ulladulla this week.
“These awards aren’t only about recognising winners they are about developing our industry, encouraging excellence and improving our businesses,” says Jo Spencer from the NSW Business Chamber.
Finalists across the 10 categories included:
- Bangalay Luxury Villas – Shoalhaven Heads
- Club Catalina – Batemans Bay
- Cupitt – Ulladulla
- Eucumbene Trout Farm – Rocky Plain
- Fern Street Gallery – Gerringong
- Giiyong Festival – Broadwater
- Kiah Wilderness Tours – Kiah
- Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa – Crackenback
- Morvern Valley Guesthouse Pty Ltd – Bundanoon
- Mt Hay Retreat – Berry
- Southbound Escapes – Narooma
- South Coast Nannies – Nowra
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Shellharbour
“Congratulations to all the finalists for their collaborative effort towards achieving our common goal of ensuring NSW maintains its position as Australia’s number one state for tourism,” NSW Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres says.
In the year that ended in March of this year, regional NSW welcomed a record 25.8 million international and domestic overnight visitors, “and injected $13.7 billion into the regional NSW economy,” Mr Ayres says.
Peter Cottrell from Eucumbene Trout Farm with Peter Beer, Chair of Destination Southern NSW. Photo: Ian Campbell.
The afternoon awards ceremony was drenched in sunshine at Cupitts winery in Ulladulla, a delicious lunch straight out of their kitchen garden, washed down with Cupitt’s own brews and wine.
Eucumbene Trout Farm at Rocky Plain near Jindabyne was the first winner, taking gold in the ‘Tourist Attractions’ category.
One of the biggest cheers of the afternoon was for the Giiyong Aboriginal arts and culture festival, a collaboration between Twofold Aboriginal Corporation and South East Arts, who won gold in the “Festivals and Events’ category.
The Giiyong crew – South East Arts and Twofold Aboriginal Corporation. Photo: Ian Campbell.
“Giiyong Festival was a first event of its kind in Southern NSW,” says Festival Artistic Director Jazz Williams.
“This award [is an] acknowledgment of the value of Aboriginal culture and its deserved place at the forefront of our creative and social landscape here in South East NSW.
“Giiyong Festival proved in spectacular fashion that our local talented Aboriginal artists, performers and cultural leaders have a huge amount to contribute to our cultural understanding, our local economy and our tourism industry.
“Giiyong Festival entertained over 6000 people last year. But, it did something else too.
“It educated people. About culture, about pride, about language, about issues affecting Aboriginal Australia, about traditional practices, about contemporary artforms and about the place in which we call home,” Ms Williams says.
Alison Simpson from Twofold Aboriginal Corporations accepting the awards at Cuppit winery and restaurant. Photo: Ian Campbell.
The next Giiyong is already being planned for Jigamy between Eden and Pambula in September 2020.
Alison Simpson from Twofold Aboriginal Corporation says her crew can’t wait to do it again.
“The 6,000 people who came last time is more than the population of Eden,” she says.
“That showed us that an event like this was long overdue. It’s something that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people are still talking about and we are really excited to have that opportunity.”
Sally Buckley (r) and her team from Southbound Escapes. Photo: Ian Campbell.
Sally Buckley from Southbound Escapes was the next winner in the ‘Ecotourism’ category, Jenny and Arthur Robb from Kiah Wilderness Tours claimed the silver.
“Southbound Escapes is a luxury tour operator covering the whole coast – Sydney to Eden, but we are based in Narooma,” Ms Buckley explains.
“It’s an incredibly pristine coastline – incredibly beautiful, and for visitors who haven’t been here before it offers adventure and they can really get out into the wilderness.
“This is a really special place.”
Other winners included:
- Lake Crackenback Resort and Spa, Jindabyne – Deluxe Accommodation;
- Mt Hay Retreat, Berry – Luxury Accommodation;
- Fern Street Gallery, Gerrigong – New Tourism Business;
- Cupitt’s Winery and Restaurant, Ulladulla – Excellence in Food Tourism;
- Morvern Valley Farm Stay, Bundanoon – Hosted Accommodation;
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Shellharbour – Adventure Tourism;
- South Coast Nannies, Nowra – Specialised Tourism Services.
All the finalists and winners now have the opportunity to progress to the State Tourism Awards in November.
Bonus content, click play to join in…
LIVE at the Sth NSW Regional Tourism Awards at Cupitt's Winery and Restaurant Ulladulla. Take a bow Giiyong Festival, Twofold Aboriginal Corporation, South East Arts, Kiah Wilderness Tours, Eucumbene Trout Farm, and Southbound Escapes. More to come.
Posted by About Regional on Tuesday, July 23, 2019
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