Press Release

Tuesday 27 November 2007

AN ARRAY OF TOURISM AWARD ACCOLADES FOR TASMANIA
Tasmania has been acknowledged nationally at several widely respected tourism awards during the past month.
Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, Paula Wriedt, says the awards reflect a diverse range of market sectors including Best Eco/Wilderness Experience, Brochure of the Year and Best Bar in the state.

“The results are testament to Tasmania’s increasing profile nationally, and I congratulate all the tourism businesses who have won these Awards,” Ms Wriedt said.

Tasmania scooped three awards in the annual The Australian Travel and Tourism Awards for 2007, which are voted for by readers of The Australian newspaper.

The awards won by Tasmanian businesses are:
The Best Lodge Accommodation - won by The Lodge at Tarraleah in Tasmania’s Central Highlands.
The Best Eco/ Wilderness Experience - won by the Bay of Fires Walk on the state’s north east coast
The Best Food Experience - won by Launceston’s Stillwater Restaurant and The Mill Providore.

“The Australian awards reflect consumer choices and it is an outstanding achievement for Tasmania to score wins in three major categories,” Ms Wriedt said.

Tourism Tasmania’s wholesale arm Tasmania’s Temptations Holidays has been recognised by consultants of the retail travel agency network Harvey World Travel at their recent award ceremony in Adelaide.

“Tasmania’s Temptations Holidays has won the esteemed Harvey World Travel ‘Brochure of the Year’ award again – its tenth win in the last twelve years,” Ms Wriedt said.

“The votes are cast by consultants working in Harvey World’s Travel network of more than 600 agencies and the award shows how Tasmania is continuing to build on its strong relationship with the travel industry,” Ms Wriedt said.

Three Tasmanian businesses have also taken honours at the 2007 TNT Magazine Golden Backpack Awards.
The Pickled Frog Hostel in Hobart picked up the award for Best Hostel in Tasmania, with Central City Backpackers in Hobart highly commended in the category.

Under Down Under Tours won the award for Best Experience in Tasmania, with Conservation Volunteers Australia (Tasmanian Branch) highly commended.

The award for the Best Bar in the State went to Hobart’s Republic Bar and Café, with Irish Murphy’s scoring a high commendation.

“The Golden Backpacks 2007 are Australia and New Zealand’s only dedicated awards for this important independent travel sector,” Ms Wriedt said.

“Thanks to low airfares into the state and an increase of working holiday maker visas nationally, the backpacker travel market in Tasmania is very buoyant and on an upward trend,” Ms Wriedt said.

To contact award winners please contact Michelle Nichols from Tourism Tasmania on 6230 8139 or 0400 081 410.

For further information contact Tourism Tasmania's Communications Unit

(03) 6230 8244
email mediainfo@tourism.tas.gov.au