Sydney - Middle East Times Int’l: Adelaide Zoo has taken out Australia’s top tourism award for the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards during a big ceremony in Sydney, on Friday, March 17, 2023.

“This is the biggest annual celebration of tourism business excellence in Australia. And we have much to celebrate recognising and elevating the very best of what tourism has to offer in this great country of ours,” said Shaun de Bruyn, chairman of Australian Tourism Awards.

“Each of our award nominees have reached the status of absolute excellence in tourism and business to be here– a night of reflection, triumph and solidarity for the industry. Australia’s tourism operators and products are truly outstanding across the board, and we’re seeing this with all states and territories represented in the winner’s pool.

The top award, for Major Tourist Attraction, went to Adelaide Zoo in South Australia while the Gold award for Tourist Attraction went to Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience in Queensland. Other Gold category winners are (category list first):

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Tourism Experience: wukalina Walk, Tasmania;

Ecotourism: Live Ningaloo, Western Australia;

Cultural Tourism: Geelong Gallery, Victoria;

Major Festivals & Events: Darwin Festival, Northern Territory.

Unique Accommodation: Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Canberra;

5 Star Luxury Accommodation: Mt Hay Retreat, NSW.

 “As an industry we are susceptible to many external factors … but we continue to innovate, collaborate and come back strong. Many of our tourism operators are going from strength to strength, bouncing back after the worst of the pandemic,” Mr de Bruyn said.