After two of the most challenging years ever in the tourism industry, local businesses Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Shaw Wineries and Van Du Vin have been recognised at the 2021 Canberra Region Tourism Awards tonight. Major awards have gone to Australian Parliament House, National Arboretum Canberra, National Gallery of Australia and the Royal Australian Mint.

Canberra’s best of the tourism industry were honoured in what was the first ever virtual Canberra Region Tourism Awards – the Canberra Region Tourism Awards ‘On Tour’.

The planned 2021 awards ceremony to celebrate the Canberra region’s best of the best in tourism was last month announced as a virtual event due to the Covid Omicron outbreak.

“Whilst we could not all be together to celebrate in person, we still absolutely wanted to recognise our entrants and winners. This is the first time we have made the event virtual,” said Dr Naomi Dale, CEO of the Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council.

“All stakeholders, entrants and their colleagues, families and friends were invited to our virtual celebration of the local tourism industry’s efforts.

“The flexibility that online offers allowed many people to attend virtually which is wonderful, proving even against the backdrop of Covid cancellations, the industry is finding ways to connect and work together,” Dr Dale said.

‘On Tour’ was hosted by Mix 106.3’s Wilko who visited some of Canberra’s popular tourism spots to reveal the winners, including the Canberra Region Visitor Centre, Go Boat on Lake Burley Griffin, a stop at the National Zoo and Aquarium, and Australian Parliament House.

“We want to congratulate all our winners from around the region. On staying open in whatever capacity they could, delivering world class tourism experiences, hosting events – and virtual events of course – keeping accommodation open and even starting up new tourism ventures in what has been the second of two very challenging years for our industry,” Dr Dale said.

Major award winners included: Australian Parliament House which was awarded winner in the Major Tourist Attractions category; National Arboretum Canberra which won the award for Tourist Attraction; National Gallery of Australia which took out the Major Festivals and Events category; and the Royal Australian Mint which won the Cultural Tourism category.

Other notable wins included: Shaw Wineries in the category of Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries; Jamala Wildlife Lodge in the category of Unique Accommodation; and Van Du Vin which won for New Tourism Business.

All winners in the national categories will go on to compete against their peers from around the country at the Australian Tourism Awards to be held on the Sunshine Coast next month.

VisitCanberra were the awards’ major sponsor, with the National Capital Attractions Association as program owner. President Russell Jackson was quick to throw his support behind the virtual awards.

“Congratulations again to our very valued and award-winning members of our tourism industry and we look forward to a return to in-person celebrations in 2022,” Mr Jackson said.

The full list of award categories, winners and commendation can be viewed below.

For more information on the awards visit www.canberratourismawards.com.au

Canberra Region Tourism Awards 2021 – Results